Karnataka willing to share loan waiver burden if Centre announces it: D.K. Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated the state is willing to share the financial burden of a farm loan waiver if the Union government announces one, proposing a 60:40 Centre-State ratio. This comes amid demands from opposition parties for a state-level waiver, with Shivakumar accusing the BJP of playing politics.
Why it matters
This political exchange highlights the ongoing debate over agricultural debt relief in India, with state and central governments often shifting responsibility, impacting farmers' livelihoods and state finances.
Amid a demand by the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) for announcement of farm loan waiver by the Karnataka government, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said that the State was willing to share the financial burden of loan waiver if the Union government makes such an announcement.
“Let us join together and plead with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a loan waiver. We will give our share. We will stop grants to other programmes. There can be an understanding on Centre-State ratio in the loan waiver. We are ready for even 60:40 ratio,” the Chief Minister told the Legislative Assembly, even as Leader of Opposition R. Ashok kept urging for an announcement. “I do not want confrontation in the time of drought,” the Chief Minister said.
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