Centre Following Anti-Farmer Policies: Congress Minister Cites Loan Waiver Disparity

M.B. Patil, a senior Congress leader and Karnataka's Minister, on Saturday accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of following anti-farmer policies. He made the remarks while speaking at the inauguration of a grain godown of the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society in Shirbur village, Babaleshwar taluk, Vijayapura district.

Patil cited statements by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, asserting that the Union government had waived off loans of industrialists worth over ₹10 lakh crore in the last 12 years, while remaining unwilling to waive off farmers' loans of just ₹2 lakh crore. “Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the only national leader who waived off farmers' loans,” he said.

MLA Shivanand Patil, who also spoke at the event, echoed similar concerns. He alleged that the central government's anti-farmer policies had even led the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to stop lending to farmers.

Addressing the challenges faced by farmers, M.B. Patil noted that the state is reeling under severe drought. "Farmers have sown two or three times, but lost money and inputs. In such a situation, cooperative societies are supporting farmers," he said. He stressed that cooperatives have historically been a boon during crises.

Patil also highlighted the long-term need to address climate vagaries by raising the impounding capacity of the Almatti dam. He advocated increasing its height to 524.256 meters. He noted that this would submerge over 70,000 acres of land and require relocation of 20 villages. Earlier compensation for land losers was around ₹30,000 crore, which has now risen to ₹60,000 crore for affected farmers, he added.

He further announced his intention to work with Cooperation Minister Laxman Savadi and MLA Shivanand Patil to revive the Nandi Cooperative Sugar Factory in Vijayapura district, which is facing financial problems. "This godown will help farmers protect their grains till they get fair prices," he said, lauding Shivanand Patil's contribution to the cooperative sector.

Speaking on the cooperative movement, MLA Shivanand S. Patil described it as secular and non-partisan. He noted that around 250 of the 272 rural cooperative societies in Vijayapura district have their own offices and provide average loans of ₹80,000 — the highest in the state. The Vijayapura District Central Cooperative Bank (DCC Bank) records an annual transaction of ₹6,000 crore.

He also highlighted the bank's support for rural dairies, citing the example of women in Takkalaki village who collect 3,000 litres of milk per day due to DCC Bank assistance. The bank offers low-interest loans for farmhouse construction, he said.

The event saw the presence of Sri Siddalinga Swamiji of the Virakta Math in Basavan Bagewadi, society president Ramanagouda Patil, M.D. Padasalagi, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies S.K. Bhagyashree, DCC CEO S.A. Dhavalagi, Assistant Registrar Chetana Bhavikatti, and Training Coordinator R.M. Banagar, among others.