Karnataka: Opposition parties stage walkout in Assembly

Belagavi, Nov 24: Opposition parties today staged a walk out in the Legislative Assembly, as government expressed its inability to announce crop loan waiver and crop compensation to farmers reeling under drought in the state.

While BJP is demanding crop loan waiver, JD(S) wanted crop compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre for affected farmers.

Defending the government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the administration was working on a "war footing" to mitigate the problems arising out of drought, and that his government was "pro-farmer", "pro-poor" and "socialist".

He said he would also lead an all party delegation to the Prime Minister, seeking central government support in drought relief measures.

Karnataka, reeling under successive years of drought,has declared 139 taluks in 29 districts as drought hit.

Responding to BJP's demand for loan waiver, Siddaramaiah said "the state government will do its half once the central government waives off its half."

"The quantum of loan that we have issued through cooperative societies is about Rs 10,000 crore, which is about 20 per cent, while 80 per cent of farmers have obtained loans through nationalised banks to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore. Their (central) share is more," he said.

The CM said it is the responsibility of both the state government and Centre to address needs of the people during droughts and floods and reminded that UPA government had waived Rs 72,000 crore of farmers' loans.

"The present union government and Prime Minister are in a better position economically as government has an advantage of Rs two lakh crore due to dip in crude oil prices and will now be at an advantage of Rs 5-6 lakh crore due to demonetisation. So they are in an able position to waive off farmer loan."

BJP objected to the CM trying to shift responsibility on the central government, following which a war of words broke between both opposition and treasury benches.

Siddaramaiah called it "anti social justice" and "anti-farmer" and charged the centre with neglecting the state.

"We faced injustice from the 14th Finance Commission; also when Karnataka is second most dry and drought affected state in the country after Rajasthan," he said.

Taking a dig at JD(S) for promising to waive crop loans of farmers within 24 hours if voted to power, the CM said "how will you do it when you can't come to power?"

As government did not agree to their demands for crop loan waver, BJP members walked out. They were followed by JD(S), who said they are taking up the challenge and will come back to power in 2018 assembly elections to waive farmers' loans.

Earlier, in his reply to the debate on drought, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa listed out the steps taken by government to address the problem and said providing drinking water, fodder for cattle and jobs for the needy are the priority before the government.