Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Dec 20: Pandemonium was witnessed in the assembly session here on Wednesday December 19 on the issue of loan waiver in nationalized banks. Members of the ruling coalition and opposition hurled accusations at each other, which gave rise to din in the session, forcing adjournment of the house.

Strong words were exchanged between current chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, and former chief minister and leader of the opposition, B S Yeddyurappa, resulting in turmoil during the last phase of the current assembly session.

When the chief minister was replying to the debate on drought, the issue of loan waiver also came to be mentioned. Yeddyurappa, dissatisfied by the reply furnished by the chief minister, asked Kumaraswamy to stop blabbering on unnecessary details and provide pointed answer to what happened to the promise made by the latter of waiving farm loans within 24 hours of rising to power. He reminded the chief minister that till now, only Rs 50 crore farm loan has been waived. "You are now seeking time of five years to waive the loans. Do you expect the farmers to wait till then?" he demanded to know.

Angered by this, Kumaraswamy retaliated by indirectly blaming Yeddyurappa, by commenting that he is aware who was behind non-cooperation of nationalized banks for loan waiver. Yeddyurappa retorted by saying that he is not in contact with any of the banks, and asked the chief minister to speak responsibly. This gave rise to friction between   legislators, after which BJP MLAs entered the well of the house, and held dharna, raising slogans against the government, branding it 'anti-farmer' and demanding waiver of all farm loans. The ruling members raised slogans against Modi government for not waiving loans in nationalized banks. As the house witnessed shouting and confusion, it was adjourned for 20 minutes.

Although speaker, Ramesh Kumar, invited Yeddyurappa to his chamber for striking truce between the ruling and opposition parties, Yeddyurappa did not go. When the session resumed, BJP members continued with their dharna, demanding waiver of farm loans in nationalized banks. Deputy chief minister, Dr G Parameshwara, asked them to pressurize Modi to waive loans in nationalized banks, which again gave rise to allegations and counter allegations. As such, the speaker adjourned the house for the day.