Bengaluru: In a strong rebuttal to criticism about loan waiver scheme announced in the budget, Chief Minister H.D.Kumaraswamy said on Saturday that among all districts those in north Karnataka region benefitted most by the government's decision to write off farms loans of Rs 34,000 crores.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Kumaraswamy said leaders of BJP and a section of the media and BJP were spreading disinformation that the Vokkaliga heart land of Mandya and Hassan would derive maximum benefit of loan waiver scheme, but in fact Belagavi and Bagalkot districts of north Karnataka would benefit most. Through this scheme, farmers of Belagavi district would receive benefit of Rs 4500 crores, and those of Bagalkot district, Rs 3000 crores. On the other hand, farmers of Mandya and Hassan district would receive benefits of Rs 1500 and Rs 1000 crores respectively. How could north Karnataka be meted injustice in the budget, asked a visibly upset Mr. Kumaraswamy.
“One private Kannada TV channel carried a news that 34 percent of Vokkaligas will be benefited from loan waiver scheme,” he said wondering how the caste factor could be brought to focus in such matters? "There should be a limit for everything. I am ready for open discussion with facts and figure. I request people who are criticizing me about loan waiver scheme to understand all aspects before arriving at any conclusion. I have made honest effort to help farmers in distress. I will not allow robbers to loot Rs 34,000 crore and even I will not take that amount home”, he remarked.
The Chief Minister said he would reply in detail in the House to all allegations made against him. "I will not run away from the debate. I have district wise statistics with me, and will reply to all questions raised about loan waiver scheme and give district wise figures of beneficiaries of loan waiver scheme", he added.
On the decision to hike of diesel and petrol prices to match the grant for loan waiver scheme, he said it was taken in the Cabinet, not one sided decision, adding that there was no proposal forthcoming from Congress to reverse the fuel price hike. "No one has approached me regarding reversal of fuel price. A mere hike of Rs. 10 paise will not affect the people. Why no voice raised when Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised fuel price frequently in last four years" , Mr.Kumaraswamy questioned the BJP.
