BJP leader E.S. Eshwarappa has said that as he was not representing the Union government, led by the BJP, he cannot comment why the Centre was not offering loan waiver to farmers.
Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday after visiting some farms as he is one of the leaders of the drought monitoring committee of the BJP, he said that a majority of the BJP-ruled States such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have waived farm loans without the support of any Union government funds.
He said that the Union government cannot offer loan waiver support to one State such as Karnataka as it will have do it for the entire country, if at all it is doing it.
But when a reporter reminded him that the UPA government had offered ₹ 70,000 crore farm waiver to the entire nation, then Mr. Eshwarappa said that the Union government will also do that at an appropriate time.
When asked when that time will come as the Union government has already completed four-and-a-half years of its five-year term, a visibly upset Mr. Eshwarappa cut the question short saying that he has given answers to all the queries on the issue.
When another journalist asked him why none of the BJP leaders had visited farmers who had gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi recently, Mr. Eshwarappa said that it is not necessary for party leaders to meet every agitator.
Earlier, he accused the coalition government in the State of not taking any steps to help farmers who are in distress, though 100 taluks have been declared drought-hit.
Stating that none of the district in-charge Ministers are holding review meetings on drought in their respective districts, Mr. Eshwarappa demanded that the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda visit drought-hit areas and meet people to encourage the coalition Ministers to follow suit.
Stating that the State government has sought ₹ 1,743 crore from the Union government to tackle drought, Mr. Eshwarappa suggested that the government spend the money from its own account and later get it reimbursed from the Union government.
“Instead of waiting for funds to come from the Union government, just spend money and later get it adjusted when the Union government releases funds,” he said.
He said that the BJP would be gathering nearly one lakh farmers in Belagavi before the start of the winter session of the Legislature to raise issues concerning farmers.
‘Flippant statements’
Mr. Eshwarappa also said that “Mr. Siddaramaiah’s brain is filled with dung”. He said that “because of the dung in his brain, Mr. Siddaramaiah is giving “flippant statements” on various issues, including his defeat in the Chamundeshwari Assembly segment.”
“At times, he says that he will not contest elections, while at other times he says that he will be the next Chief Minister. Yet again, he says that he could not understand why he lost in the Chamundeshwari constituency and then, he says that a conspiracy was hatched by some leaders to ensure his defeat. He has not been consistent in his statements, Thus, I say that his brain is filled with dung,” he explained.