The former MLA H.M. Vishwanath, who recently joined the Congress, has said he will try to bring in more workers and leaders from other parties into the Congress fold in the coming days. He announced that A.B. Basavaraju, chairperson of Sakleshpur Taluk Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, and five directors of the bank have joined the Congress.
Addressing presspersons in Hassan on Tuesday, he said many elected members in various bodies in Sakleshpur and Alur taluks were ready to join the Congress. “In a few days from now, they will join hands with me to strengthen the Congress in these two taluks,” he said.
Mr. Vishwanath was with the Janata Dal (Secular) for many years. He joined the KJP a few days before the State Assembly polls. When asked about his decision to quit the KJP, he said he was disappointed with KJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa’s sudden changes on political affiliations. “The day he declared that he would wish to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, I decided to quit the KJP,” he said.
Cardamom growers
Referring to the plight of cardamom growers, he said they were in dire straits as their crops were under shoot borer attack. The growers are demanding one-time waiver of loans. “The total outstanding loan of cardamom growers across the State is around Rs. 11.45 crore. An expert committee, appointed by the government had recommended a special package on the lines of the package offered to coffee growers. However, the government has to implement it,” he said.
As cardamom growers were reeling under loss, growers have not cleared the loan borrowed from PCARD Bank in Sakleshpur. Mr. Basavaraju, president of the bank, said that the bank had extended Rs. 4.5 crore to cardamom growers in the taluk. “Anticipating the government’s announcement to waive loans, no farmer has been paying the loan, forcing the bank to suffer loss,” he said.
