CM hints at farm loan waiver ‘at the right time’

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah threw broad hints on the subject of farm loan waiver, saying he would take an appropriate decision “at the right time”. The government has been under intense pressure from the Opposition to waive farm loans, and the issue is likely to dominate the legislature session starting Monday. Mr. Siddaramaiah said he would wait for some more time for the Union government to decide on loan waiver before acting on it. He was speaking at a mega convention held in the city on Saturday to distribute entitlements to beneficiaries from eight districts of Mysuru Division. Mr. Siddaramaiah said total loans taken by farmers in the State was ₹52,000 crore of which ₹42,000 crore was from nationalised banks, while ₹10,000 crore was from cooperative institutions. “I have been urging the Union government to waive farm loans, but it continues to be indifferent to the State government’s plea,” said Mr. Siddaramaiah. He reiterated that he would take a decision at the right time. Referring to frequent barbs by BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa that the State government had failed to announce loan waiver, Mr. Siddaramaiah recalled that the BJP MPs and leaders from Karnataka had remained silent when he took an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister to apprise him of the drought and agricultural crises, and the imperativeness of loan waivers.