Pic: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jun 24: Food and civil supplies minister U T Khader on Friday June 23, lauded chief minister Siddaramaiah's move to waive farmers' loans availed from the co-operative banks.

Addressing media persons here he said, "It was a long pending demand of the farmers who had requested the state government to waive their loans availed from co-operative banks. This move has definitely brought smiles on their faces. It would be better if the central government would waive farmers' loans from nationalised banks. Along with co-operative banks, farmers avail loans from nationalised banks too and find difficult to repay. The state's repeated requests to the central government to waive off the loans have been ignored."

Speaking about providing kerosene oil to the fisherman Khader said, "We used to provide kerosene to fisherman through PDS shops. Now, the state governement has found a permanent solution by alloting Rs 60 crore per annum to provide kerosene to fisherman at subsidised prices."

'Ban India-Pakistan cricket matches'

"After India lost to Pakistan in the recently concluded Champions Trophy finals, some people were found cheering for Pakistan with anti-national slogans. It is unnecessary to hold matches between these two countries which lead to more problems. When UPA was ruling at the centre, BJP are the ones who raised voices against India-Pakistan cricket matches. But now, they are encouraging matches played between the two Asian sides. BJP is known for their U-turns on several occasions. Earlier, when GST and Aadhar card was proposed, they are the ones who opposed," he said.

Khader defends Ramanath Rai

Khader defended district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai's purported instructions to the district superintendent of police to arrest Kallladka Prabhakar Bhat. "If Bhat really wanted to maintain peace and harmony, he would have raised his voice against the stabbing case and demanded for the arrest of culprits," he said.