CM should have acted faster, says Deve Gowda

Hassan: Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Sunday observed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should have acted faster and seriously to address the problems of the farming community when a Kuruba farmer allegedly committed suicide after writing a death note in 2013 when the Belagavi session was on.

Lamenting that no minister had tried to console bereaved farmer families till senior Congress leader S.M. Krishna took the initiative to console them in Mandya which has registered 16 farmer suicides, Mr Gowda criticised the statement of the CM saying he will constitute a magisterial committee to find the exact reasons for the suicides. The former PM added that such committees have crossed hundred in the state. On the CM announcing Rs two lakh compensation for the bereaved farmer families, he wondered when this ex-gratia will reach farmers?

Mr Gowda said Mr Siddaramaiah is no comparison to late Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs who was regarded a champion of the backward classes and observed. “I will not blame Mr Siddaramaiah since he is directed by his party high command.”

In advice for the CM, Mr Gowda said, “Only loan waiver does not help famers” and added that “an Ahinda like approach too is not enough.”

Production oriented investments are needed, he said and added that unless farm loans reach farmers, curbs on private moneylenders will not serve any purpose.