BJP Kisan Morcha State president and former MLA AS Patil Nadahalli has urged the State Government to curb wasteful expenditure and waive farmers’ loans amid the prevailing drought.
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VIJAYAPURA
BJP Kisan Morcha State president and former MLA AS Patil Nadahalli has urged the State Government to immediately cut unnecessary expenditure and announce a farm loan waiver, citing the severe financial distress faced by farmers due to drought.
Addressing a press conference, Nadahalli said even a 10 per cent reduction in unnecessary government expenditure could save thousands of crores of rupees. He said the savings could instead be utilised for farmers’ relief and loan waiver.
He urged ministers, legislators and senior government officials to voluntarily announce cuts in their salaries and expenditure. Accusing the government of neglecting farmers, Nadahalli demanded that Vijayapura district be declared severely drought-affected.
He specifically sought immediate drought declaration for Chadchan, Talikoti and Indi taluks. Questioning the exclusion of Talikoti from the drought-hit list, he said the taluk had recorded inadequate rainfall and lacked assured irrigation facilities.
The State Government has recently expanded its drought declaration to 124 taluks, including Basavana Bagewadi, Babaleshwar and Tikota in Vijayapura district. Nadahalli said the government should not use classifications such as mild, moderate and severe to understate the seriousness of the drought.
He demanded an immediate relief package of Rs 50,000 per acre to compensate farmers for Kharif and Rabi crop losses and help them sustain their families over the coming year.
Nadahalli also criticised the crop insurance system, alleging that farmers were facing difficulties in receiving insurance benefits. He called for measures to simplify the process and ensure timely compensation.
He warned that farmers would intensify their agitation if the government failed to take concrete decisions on their demands during the Assembly session.
Nadahalli announced a round-the-clock protest in front of the Vijayapura Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday, with thousands of farmers expected to participate. He said the agitation would be intensified further if the government failed to respond.
He also sought clarification over allegations by some ruling-party legislators that certain constituencies had been selectively declared drought-hit.
Former MLA Somangouda Patil Sasanoor, former Organic Seed Certification Agency chairman Vijugouda Patil, BJP district president Gurulingappa Angadi, BJP Kisan Morcha district president Balraj Reddy, Umesh Karajol, Kasugouda Biradar and Shilpa Kudaragonda were present.
