Do not repay loans, BJP tells farmers

The State unit of the BJP has urged farmers not to repay loans they have borrowed from banks if the Congress government does not waive agriculture loans.

“We know that the Congress government will not waive loans. You wait for another two-and-a-half years without repaying loans as the BJP will to come power again in the next election. Soon after that, we will waive all agriculture loans”, announced several BJP leaders including the party’s State president, Pralhad Joshi, and former Ministers C.T. Ravi and Shobha Karandlaje.

They gave this call during the party’s ‘Raita Chaitanya Yatra’ held at Tikota village of Babaleshwar Assembly constituency here on Tuesday.

Earlier, addressing presspersons, Mr. Joshi accused the Congress government of failing to tackle the drought situation effectively.

He said that the entire Cabinet lead by the Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, was busy with the BBMP election and coming to power with the help of the JD(S) after the election. “The Chief Minister has no time to visit the drought-affected district and see the grave situation of farmers. He is busy making strategies to get BBMP powers,” Mr. Joshi said.

With regard to the power crisis in the State, the BJP MP of Dharwad district said that the infighting in the Congress has led to the State being plunged in darkness. He demanded that the government take immediate steps to purchase the power in order to tide over the situation.

Kalburgi killing

Mr. Pralhad Joshi has appealed to the people not to jump to conclusion with regard to the killing of writer and rationalist M.M. Kalburgi. Replying to a question on the speculations of the involvement of Hindu extremists group behind the murder, he said that a fair investigation should be allowed to take place.

“The incident was extremely shocking and condemnable in the most severe form. But it is inappropriate on the part of anybody to blame anyone without basis. Let the investigation be completed. The BJP demands stringent punishment to the culprits,” he said.

He criticised the government for not reaching any breakthrough in the murder even after ten days.