Udupi: Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister for Agriculture slammed Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu for his statement against the farmers demanding loan waiver. He said that the monetary burden on cultivators is an outcome of the Centre failing to full fill its promise of waiving the loan of nationalised banks made by the farmers. He was speaking after inaugurating the Agriculture Diploma College at Brahmavar on Friday.

"Naidu’s statement is unfortunate and said that his statement has insulted the farmers. Such statements by ministers on farm loan waiver shows their attitude towards the poor farmers. This remark is an insult to them. The state government has given many incentives to farmers directly and indirectly. For instance, the energy bill that the government pays on behalf of the farmers is close to Rs 9000 crore per year. Many other states charge the farmers for electricity, whereas in Karnataka, the government pays on behalf of the farmers” he added.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa’s statement that after BJP’s demand and protest the government waived the loan of farmers. then why is BSY is not ready to convince Narendra Modi to waive the farm loans. No BJP MP’s has voiced their opinion in front of the Prime Minister. Yeddyurappa has double standards when it comes to the farmer’s issue. Recalling Yeddyurappa’s tenure as chief minister, the minister said that, “When Congress asked Yeddyurappa, the then chief minister, to waive off farm loans in the Legislative Council, Yeddyurappa said that he did not have a note printing machine. The document is available in the Council. Yeddyurappa is a liar and is making false and baseless allegations against the state government for political gains. BJP MPs have not raised their voice on the farm loan waiver in the Parliament, he added.