Former Chief Minister and State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa has threatened to launch a farmers’ agitation in July if the Siddaramaiah government failed to waive off crop loans borrowed by farmers.
Speaking at a programme organised by Bangalore Press Club and Bangalore Reporters’ Guild here on Saturday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said debt-shackled farmers in drought-hit villages have been awaiting waver of crop loans for a long time. A massive rally would be organised in Bengaluru during last week of July to put pressure on the State government to wave crop loans.
Interacting with media persons at a programme, Mr. Yeddyurappa warned that “If Chief Minister Siddaramiah did not take a decision to wave agricultural loan next month, I will lead farmers agitation by bringing 4 to 5 lakh farmers to Bengaluru.”
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Mr. Siddarmaiah has been pointing a finger at the Modi government on the issue of waving crop loans. It was the responsibility of the State government to waiver off crop loans, said Mr. Yeddyurppa, who was in fact against such populist scheme when he was the Chief Minister.
Lashing out at Congress and JD(S) leaders for their criticism of his breakfast meetings with dalits, Mr. Yeddyurappasaid that “I will continue to visit dalit colonies to eat food with them. It is not first time I am visiting dalit colonies.”
Alleging a large scale of corruption and nepotism in Siddaramaiah government during the last four years, the BJP leader said the Chief Minister has weakened the Karnataka Lokayukta and established the Anti Corruption Bureau to safeguard Congress leaders.
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Ruling out an alliance with JD(S) in the event that party does not gets majority in 2018 elections, Mr. Yeddyurappa said “the question does not arise of any alliance with any other party when we are confident of winning 150 plus seats.”
The programmes launched by the Modi government and failures of the Siddaramaiah government would be highlighted during the poll campaign.