JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy visits Shivamogga villages, urges State govt. to waive farm loans

Janata Dal (Secular) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy visited Shivamogga villages on Monday, urging the State government to waive farm loans amid the impact of severe drought. The JD(S) leader expressed concern over the distress faced by the farming community due to the drought, which has left many farmers unable to sow their fields and at risk of losing their investments.

Kumaraswamy highlighted that his party waivered farm loans when it was in power without waiting for financial support from the Union government. He called on the State government to take a decisive action now to support the farmers. Kumaraswamy pointed out that farmers have spent around ₹25,000 per acre on sowing, and the government should compensate them for their losses.

The leader also mentioned that many farmers have committed suicide due to their inability to repay loans from microfinance institutions. Nikhil Kumaraswamy vowed that his party would protest against the State government's inadequate response to the farmers' crisis in front of Vidhana Soudha. The JD(S) leader toured the Shivamogga Rural Assembly constituency, represented by JD(S) MLA Sharada Pooryanaik, and interacted with affected farmers.