BELAGAVI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah turned the tables on the Opposition as they continued to make strong demand for farm loan waiver. The House witnessed heated debate between the ruling party and opposition members on the issue of drought on Thursday.
Siddaramaiah dared the opposition parties to ask Union government to waive 50 per cent of loans. The government was committed to bail farmers out of trouble, he said.
“Farmers had borrowed
Rs 10,000 crore from co-operative societies and Rs 35,000 crore from commercial banks. Let the Centre waive 50 per cent of it. I am ready to waive the state’s share of remaining 50 per cent,” the CM said when the opposition members were attacking Revenue Minister Kodagu Thimmappa.
Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar accused Siddaramaiah of furnishing wrong details.
“If my figures are wrong, you can move a privilege motion,” the CM said. He claimed that the UPA government had waived Rs 4,02, 29 crore in Karnataka out of total Rs 72,000 crore. “Despite briefing Finance Commission on drought situation, Karnataka got only Rs 1,527 crore as against Rs 6,941 crore to Rajasathan and Rs 8,000 crore to Maharashtra, he said.
“Directions have been issued to open goshalas and fodder banks and to provide food to farmers living with cattle. Farmers will also be encouraged to grow African tall fodder.”
BJP men walked out of the House, accusing the CM of not promising anything concrete on waiving loans. Earlier, the House witnessed uproar when Siddaramaiah called BJP a party of traders.