Rahul Gandhi on padayatra, meets and comforts distressed farmers

RANEBENNU, KARNATAKA: Nudged on by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Karnataka government on Sunday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of farmers who committed suicide, besides offering free education up to post graduation for their children and free medical care for all members in both government and private hospitals.

Farmers, who had gathered in thousands to hear Gandhi at Gudaguru village in Ranebennur taluk, expressed disappointment that the government had nothing much by way of offer to help out farmers in distress. “Does this mean we are expected to die before the government helps our families?” asked farmer Gurappa Madar, who had travelled from the neighbouring district of Gadag. Over 500 farmers have killed themselves so far in Karnataka this year, due to factors ranging from crashing crop prices to debt and drought.

Gandhi is on a two-day tour of Karnataka, in an effort to improve the image of the Congress party in the state, which has taken a beating due to the suicides.

“I am sorry I am not able to provide shade for all of you,” Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah told the crowd, in an indirect reference to the agrarian crisis. As a sop to the living, he announced a waiver of compound interest on loans taken by farmers from cooperative institutions. “The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is prodding you all to demand waiver of all your loans, did not do it when they were in power. If they are able to persuade prime minister Narendra Modi to waive 50% of the `29,000 crore that nationalised banks have given Karnataka, the state government will also waive 50% of the loans taken from cooperatives. Can they do that?” he asked.