Yediyurappa urges Centre to give agri loans at four per cent

Mangalore, May 31(UNI) The JD(S)-BJP Coalitation government in Karnataka is even prepared to go to the streets to force the Centre provide loans at four per cent to farmers, Deputy Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa said today.

Talking to newsmen here he condemned the Centre's attitude in rejecting the proposals putforth by Karnataka both at the Chief Minsiters Meeting convened by the Prime Minsiter and the National Development Council meeting to help farmers get loans at reduced rate of interest of four per cent through public sector banks as had been provided by Cooperative banks in Karnataka.

Accusing the Centre of providing step motherly treatment to the State, he said he would lead a delegation of the coalition government to the Centre again. If the demands were not met, the coalition partners would sit together and chaklkout the future course of action, including agitational path, he added.

The UPA government at the centre and the Congress in the state should clearly spell out their stand whether they were pro or any farmers.

He said the cabinet to meet in Bangalore tomorrow would take a decision on compensation to be paid to sugarcane growers whose crop had not been lifted by sugar factories. The state had also urged the centre to provide a matching grant of Rs.200 crore to the revolving fund set up by the state government to help farmers avoid distress sale due to fall in prices of produce and during drought and flood situations. But the centre had not responded favourably till now.

UNI