From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi

Belagavi, Nov 23: Brushing aside the vociferous demands of several ruling Congress party legislators for waiver of farm loans due to the severe drought situation in the State at a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party during the ongoing winter session of the State legislature, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddramaiah has reportedly said that he would consider it only if the Centre came forward to shoulder 50 percent of the total farm loan burden.

"The State Government cannot bear the burden on its own. The revenue collection is not up to the expectations," he told the meeting even though the Congress legislators felt it would give the party an edge in the next assembly elections.

Siddaramaiah is believed to have told the CLP meeting that the total loans from the cooperative sector for agriculture was about Rs 10,000 crore and the loans to the farm sector from commercial banks was around Rs 25,000 crore.

"Mere waiver of crop loans from cooperative sector will not help all farmers as large sections of farmers were out of the cooperative sector. Helping just one section of farmers and ignoring the interests of others is unlikely to help either the farmers or prove to be a politically wise move," he told the legislators and explained that the State Government would land in more trouble.

The Chief Minister said the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 high value currency notes and consequent problems to all sectors, especially the rural people and agriculturists, would prove to be a big hurdle for the government. The State Government is likely to lose at least Rs 8,000 crore in revenue collection, he said pointing out that the actual impact would be known only after the end of the financial year.

Quoting economic experts, the Chief Minister reportedly said the after-effects and adverse impact of the demonetisation drive could be assessed after a year and it might even hurt nationally. "We must use this issue to highlight the problems of the common man and farmers, even though eliminating black money and corruption are necessary in national interest," he said.

The Chief Minister advised all the district in-charge ministers and ruling party legislators to tour extensively and be pro-active in solving the problems of the people. "This is more important politically and will help us in the 2018 assembly polls," he said.

The Congress legislature party meeting is believed to have decided to table detailed report on irregularities on Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Express (NICE) during this winter session.
The move is said to be an effort to derail the BJP’s plan to seek resignation of primary and secondary education minister, TanveerSait’s controversial episode during just concluded Tipu Jayanti celebration at Raichur about two weeks ago.