With Karnataka set to go to polls in the first half of 2018, the three main political parties of Karnataka are leaving no stones unturned to position themselves as 'pro-farmer'.
Former Karnataka CM and JD (S) state secretary H D Kumaraswamy took a dig at former CM B S Yeddyurappa on the politically contentious issue of farmer loans waiver, speaking at an event in Mysuru on Sunday.
“When he was chief minister, Yeddyurappa had said that it is impossible to write off farm loans but is now assuring them of waiving it within 24 hours of coming to power.” Deccan Herald quoted Kumaraswamy.
Yeddyurappa had said on Saturday, that once voted to power, he will waive off farmer loans in co-operative banks within 24 hours of coming to power.
Kumaraswamy said that Yeddyurappa, who was the CM in 2008 had denied waiving off farmer loans.
"Yeddyurappa had said that it’s not possible to waive farmers loans for any reason. There is no rule that says it is compulsory to waive the loans. The Centre has not given me a currency printing machine,” Kumaraswamy said, reported Deccan Herald.
Kumaraswamy went on to mockingly ask if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given him a note printing machine now.
Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister, A Manju also criticised the BJP saying it is ‘anti-farmer’ and added while CM Siddaramaiah was ready to write off 50% of farm loans, it was the BJP-ruled Centre that was reluctant.
Speaking on the same issue on Saturday, Siddaramaiah accused Yeddyurappa of being silent on loan waivers for farmers, who borrowed from nationalised banks, which constitutes the majority of those loans. The CM said only 22% of the state’s farm loans are from state government-run financial institutions.