Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa’s “double standards” on waiver of crop loans have been exposed. He said he would heed to the former CM’s demand of waiving crop loans only if the Centre waives at least 50% of the crop loans availed by the State’s farmers from nationalised banks.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who had opposed waiving of crop loans when he was Chief Minister, is now demanding waiver of loans availed by farmers from cooperative banks. “Why did Mr. Yeddyurappa not waive crop loans when he was Chief Minister?” Mr. Siddaramaiah asked at a press conference here.
Only about 20% of the farmers have availed loans from cooperative societies, which come under the State sector. The remaining have taken aid from nationalised banks, which are under Central control. The crop loans taken from cooperative societies account for ₹11,000 crore, as against ₹40,000 crore taken from nationalised banks. Mr. Siddaramaiah said this clearly showed that the Centre would have to take action for a majority of farmers to benefit.
The CM was speaking after paying tribute to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary at the Congress office. He said instead touring various districts, BJP leaders should have gone to the national capital and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to waive crop loans.
