JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy visits Shivamogga villages, urges State govt. to waive farm loans

Janata Dal (Secular) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy has urged the State government to waive farm loans, considering the impact of drought.

Speaking to reporters at Tyajuvalli near Shivamogga on Monday, Mr. Nikhil Kumaraswamy said the State government should take a firm stand to safeguard the farming community, which is in distress due to severe drought. Instead of pointing fingers at the Union government, the State government should waive farm loans, as H.D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) did during his tenure, he said.

“Our party waived farm loans when it was in power. Kumaraswamy did not wait for any financial support from the Union government. He took the decision in the interest of the farmers. Similarly, the State government should take the bold step now,” he said.

Farmers across the State have suffered serious losses due to deficient rainfall. Many could not take up sowing because of the weak monsoon, while those who spent money on sowing have no hope of returns from their fields.

“Farmers have spent at least ₹25,000 per acre on sowing. The government should compensate them for what they have spent so far. It is disheartening that many have ended their lives, unable to bear the burden of loans. In many areas, farmers are finding it difficult to repay loans borrowed from microfinance institutions,” he said.

The JD(S) leader said the party would stage a massive protest in front of Vidhana Soudha against the State government’s poor response to the farmers’ plight.

Mr. Nikhil Kumaraswamy visited parts of the `Shivamogga Rural Assembly constituency, represented by JD(S) MLA Sharada Pooryanaik, as part of the Raitha Swabhimani Yatra. He visited farms affected by drought and interacted with farmers. He was accompanied by Ms. Pooryanaik, MLC S.L. Bhoje Gowda, former MLA K.B. Prasanna Kumar, and others.