Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Friday (August 28, 2026) said that Karnataka, which is set to submit a memorandum to the Centre seeking drought assistance, would also seek waiver of farm loans from the Centre.
Speaking to mediapersons in Bengaluru, Mr. Parameshwara, who also holds the Revenue portfolio, announced this when asked if the State government would waive farm loans to help farmers in distress owing to drought.
“The issue can be addressed comprehensively if the Union government itself announces a loan waiver. Parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are also facing drought. Like the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had waived farm loans to the tune of ₹ 72,000 crore, any decision by the Centre now to waive farm loans could benefit farmers across the country. I will urge the Union government to consider this,” he said.
“After reviewing the drought situation in the State, 101 taluks have been declared drought-affected. We will prepare and submit a memorandum to the Centre. Central teams will then visit the State and conduct an assessment, after which drought relief will be released,” he said.
The Opposition BJP had demanded that the State government waive farm loans to relieve the farmers in distress due to drought.
Published – August 28, 2026 07:32 pm IST
