Karnataka: Krishna Byre Gowda draws flak from Opposition for farmers’ plight

Bengaluru: Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had to face the ire of opposition members over farmer suicides in the state. At one point, BJP members had an argument with Mr Byre Gowda when he used the phrase, “irresponsible replies by the Union agriculture minister.”

Soon after the obituary references, Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar alleged that the minister was irresponsible while handling disbursement of relief. Mr Byre Gowda hit back saying Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh was also irresponsible while issuing statements in parliament.

Mr Shettar said that though over 193 farmers had committed suicide, only 60 have received compensation. Mr Gowda replied that the government could not complete the process unless the post-mortem and FSL reports reached them.

BJP member Visveshwar Hegde Kageri said there is an urgent need to amend the guidelines being followed for disbursement of compensation. Compensation is extended to families of farmers only if the victim has farmland in his name and if the family can establish the fact that the deceased had taken a farm loan.

“This is ridiculous as there are many undivided agriculture properties and in most cases, loans are availed by the family head,” he added. JD(S) member Y.S.V. Datta said banks continue to slap notices on farmers for debt recovery despite a warning by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “If this continues, there will be more farmer suicides,” he warned.

Three more farmers die

Three more farmers committed suicide in the state on Thursday. Naga Naik, 48, allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling of his house Thursday morning at Lakenahalli in Kadur, Chikkamagaluru district. The deceased had availed a crop loan of Rs 1 lakh from Canara Bank, a tractor loan of Rs 3 lakh from HDFC Bank and Rs 1.75 lakh loan from private moneylenders.

Another debt-ridden farmer, Mudiyappa, 60, hanged himself at his house at Hanchihalli in Kadur taluk of Chikkamagaluru Wednesday night. The farmer is said to have taken the drastic step owing to crop failure. He had availed a crop loan of '4 lakh from Kaveri Grameena Bank.

In Chitradurga, a debt-ridden farmer hanged himself at his home in Handaginadu village in Hiriyur taluk of the district Thursday evening. The deceased, Siddesh, 65, had grown onions. The crop withered owing to the failure of the borewell he dug in his field.