The statement by Karnataka Minister for Sugar and Agriculture Marketing Shivanand Patil that farmers want repeated droughts in the state so that their loans can be waived has caused a stir, with the opposition calling it a 'affront' to the farming community and demanding for his removal from the Ministry on Monday, news agency PTI reported. The BJP has demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah take his resignation in response to the comments made by the Congress government.
Patil sparked controversy in September when he claimed that farmer suicides increased when the compensation payment for the deceased's relatives was increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Speaking at an event in Belagavi on Sunday, Patil said: "Krishna river water is free, current is also free. The Chief Minister also gave seeds and fertilizer. Farmers will only wish that there should be repeated droughts, because their loans will be waived. You should not wish that way -- even if you don't wish there will be drought once in three-four years."
Noting that the state was suffering from one of the worst droughts in recent memory, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already declared a remission of interest on medium-term loans, he said: "Some (CMs) had waived loans itself, I need not tell you that, whether Siddaramaiah or Kumaraswamy or Yediyurappa (as CMs) have waived farm loan in the past."
When farmers are in need, the government will come to their aid, but no government can do so all of the time, he stated adding that "with all these forethoughts if we grow, certainly we will have a great future."
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated earlier today that Karnataka Minister Shivanand Patil should retract and apologise for his statements on farmers. Joshi told reporters in Hubballi that Patil had made a very foolish comment and that persons in positions of power should not speak like way.
State BJP President B Y Vijayendra slammed the Minister's comments as "irresponsible" and attacked the state's Congress government.
Remembering Patil's previous "arrogant" statements on farmer suicides, the saffron party leader said: "Shivanand Patil has once again insulted the farmers. I urge the Chief Minister to immediately call him and expostulate him, and if he is not able to mend himself, take his resignation."
Speaking to the media, Vijayendra said the Congress and its government's attitude towards farmers, who feed the country, is "unfortunate" and that the BJP firmly rejects it.
Former BJP national General Secretary C T Ravi accused Patil of demeaning farmers and farming culture by making such remarks, and said he was unable to serve as a Minister for even a minute.
Seeking Patil's immediate removal, he said: "Making him continue as Minister will make Congress a party to his sins. This shows the height of intoxication of power. If the CM doesn't act, people will act... farmers are not beggars, no one can tolerate such a statement."