Mandya: Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has declared that he will undertake state-wide ‘padayathra’ in case the state government fails to make an announcement on waiver of farmer loans by May end.
It may be recalled that on Thursday, a debt-ridden farmer named Shivanna from Hosuru in Mandya had committed suicide leaving behind a suicide note mentioning his last wish that former CM H D Kumaraswamy must take part in his last rites.
Fulfilling the last wish of the farmers, Kumaraswamy, who was in Belagavi when he learnt of the development rushed to Mandya and took part in the last rites of Shivanna.
Handing over compensation of Rs one lakh from his personal behalf, Kumaraswamy also promised to support Shivanna’s daughter’s education and ensure that she gets a job.
Taking a dig at the government, he said that despite being faced with drought every year, the government has still not understood the seriousness of the issue.
“We have been demanding for Rs 25,000 monetary relief per acre for farmers in case of crop loss. Without taking into consideration these useful measures, the government is busy announcing useless programmes in the state,” he said adding that the Rs five lakh monetary relief that the government gives after death of the farmer is not an answer to the problems of the farmers.