Karnataka polls:BJP releases manifesto, promises waiving off farm loan up to Rs one lakh

Bengaluru: The BJP on Friday released its manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly elections, in which among several promises made for the people of the state, the party assured waiving off loan up to Rs 1 lakh for farmers.
“The day I will become CM, this is the first thing I will announce,” said, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa while releasing his party’s manifesto.
“We are committed to reducing the burden of debt on our Annadaatas. We will announce a crop loan waiver up to Rs1 lakh, including all loans from Nationalised Banks and Co-operatives, in our first Cabinet meeting for the benefit of our Annadaatas,” the senior BJP leader said.
He announced offering Rs 100 cr “Raitha Bandhu Scholarship” to enable farmers’ children to pursue agriculture and allied sector courses. Also, announced sending 1000 farmers from the state to travel to Israel and China per year to study best practices under the “CM Fellowship for Agriculture.”
The BJP’s manifesto also talked about creating Rs 5000 crore Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund to support farmers during price fluctuations.
Yeddyurappa said Raitha Bandhu Department will be under CMO and it will monitor implementation of all farmer- related schemes. The BJP leader also talked about his plan to create Rs 1.5 lakh crore ‘Sujalam Suphalam Karnataka Yojane’ to complete all irrigation projects by 2023. “We will also launch ‘Mission Kalyani’ to rejuvenate all takes and lakes in the state. Farmers will be given three-phase power supply for 10 hours to operate their pump sets,” Yeddyurappa said.
While announcing several pro-farmers schemes, he said, on becoming CM of the state, “we will launch Rs 3,000 crore Kamadhenu Fund for development of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure and Rs 1,000 crore fund for expanding veterinary services.” The BJP’s chief ministerial candidate also announced about re-introduction of the “Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012.