Farm loan waiver: Siddaramaiah exposes BJP’s politics as Centre snubs Karnataka

Bengaluru, Jun 22: The farm loan waiver announced by CM Siddaramaiah in the legislative assembly on Wednesday saw much bantering between the Congress and the BJP in both Houses of the legislature. Defending the move, the chief minister pulled up the BJP . Here's his take: The PM assured a farm loan waiver in the run-up to UP assembly elections and it featured in the BJP's poll manifesto.

The party came to power and announced farm loan waiver, but a government order is yet to be issued.Maharashtra, too, has announced crop loan waiver and not issued any order. This is how the BJP plays politics.In Karnataka, we never made a mention of farm loan waiver in our poll manifesto, yet we have done it now in the interest of farmers. We are issuing an order with immediate effect.

There had been demands from legislators and the opposition parties for loan waiver, but we have announced a waiver to pull the farmers' out of distress and not because of pressure or fear of the BJP. In fact, we have also cleared all the loans that had been obtained by the previous Jagadish Shettarled BJP government. The BJP has no moral right to demand loan waiver.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said the Centre will not support farm loan waiver. If this is the Centre's stand, how can states go ahead with it. Despite the Centre's no, we decided to waive off loans.

Farmers' unrest erupted in MP and took a violent turn.There is no such situation in Karnataka despite the state reeling under severe drought. In fact, the NITI Ayog, too, has acknowledged that farmers in Karnataka are happier than those elsewhere in the country . This proves that our government is pro-farmer and delivers.

You should be in cinema, Tara tells Siddaramaiah The legislative council saw

The legislative council saw its members share some humour when CM Siddaramaiah announced the loan waiver. Seeing the CM announce the waiver, actor-turned politician Tara remarked: "A great actor. You should be in cinema". To this, Siddaramaiah responded: "I will definitely act if you can produce a film for me". Tara, instantly shot back. "I'm ready to be the producer but only if you agree to be my financier. Later, the CM reminisced he and his friendturned-foe AH Vishwanath acted in college. "He (Vishwanath ) was a better actor," he added. Opposition leader KS Eshwarappa said: "Three members in this House belong to the film fraternity and who act with make-up.But the CM acts with the grease paint."