On Wednesday, the Karnataka government decided to waive farmer loans in the State. Speaking about this, M. Venkaiah Naidu, the Union Minister for Urban Development said this has become a fashion. He said, “Loan waiver has become a fashion now. The loan should be waived but in extreme situations only as it’s not the final solution.” Naidu also said “We have to take care of farmers.”
While addressing Pune’s municipal bond program launch, he said, “See what happened to Air India, the government has no business to be in business. It needs to focus on healthcare, administration, education and basic amenities.”
This statement about fashion did not go well with Sitaram Yechury, the CPI(M) General Secretary. He said that these comments were a disrespect to the farmers’ community. Speaking to a news agency, he said, “36-40,000 farmers have committed suicide in last three years. Calling loan waiver fashionable is a disrespect to our anndaata.”
Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka CM on Wednesday urged PM Narendra Modi about farm loan waiver from national and commercial banks. He said Rs. 8,165 crore worth loans will be waived and will help over 22.27 lakh farmers.
