Farmer organisations in Karnataka have threatened to stage a demonstration outside the legislative Assembly on November 19 in protest against the state government’s delay in releasing funds to settle their loans, The Times of India reported on Monday. In July, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had announced a Rs 34,000-crore waiver.
The Ninth Metropolitan Magistrate of Kolkata in West Bengal recently issued an arrest warrant for seven Belagavi-based farmers for defaulting on loans issued by Axis Bank, The News Minute reported. In response, Kumaraswamy directed the deputy commissioner of Belagavi to take all steps to stop the farmers from being arrested. He also asked why warrants were being issued for farmers despite his order to banks regarding the loan waiver.
The news website said farmer organisations were protesting because around 100 farmers have been served arrest warrants for defaulting on loans.
“It has been six months since the government announced the waiver but there is no sign of it being implemented,” Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Chamarasa Patil told The Times of India. “The delay has taken a toll on farmers who are getting notices and arrest warrants.”
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