K'taka govt calls for meeting to decide on farm loans waiver

Bangalore, Jan 31 (UNI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today said he will convene a meeting of heads of cooperative institutions and farmers' representatives to finalise the promised waiver of farm loans in the state.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said a meeting of officials from the Reserve Bank of India and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) would also be held soon in this regard. A clear picture on the status of cooperative loans and the category of loans to be waived would emerge after the meeting, he hoped.

He took exception to some ministers reacting on the issue and urged his cabinet colleagues not to air their views openly. He would also write to them in this regard shortly, he said.

Stressing that there was no difference of opinion between him and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Mr Yediyurappa said the Virat Hindu Samajotsav being held in different places in the state was not a function organised by Bharatiya Janata Party. If the coalition partner Janata Dal(S) President H D Deve Gowda wanted to organise conventions, he could do so in the interest of his party and there was nothing in it, he felt.

He said he would meet the Chief Minister and fix up a date for presentation of budget in the Assembly. It was likely to be held before March 20, he hinted.

UNI