Bengaluru: Karnataka's Sugarcane Development Minister, Shivanand Patil, has sparked controversy with an insensitive remark suggesting that farmers desire droughts to have their loans waived. Speaking at an event, Patil remarked, "Krishna (river) water is free, electricity is also free. Several Chief Ministers have given free seeds and manure. The farmers have only one wish in their mind -- there should be a drought year after year so that their loans get waived."
In response, the Karnataka BJP criticized the Congress government, stating that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet is "full of fools." The party, in a post on Twitter, accused the government of mocking and humiliating farmers, labeling it an "anti-farmer government." The video of Patil's remarks in Kannada went viral on social media, leading to widespread criticism.
This is not the first time Minister Shivanand Patil has courted controversy. In September, he stirred a row by suggesting that farmer suicides in the state increased after the government raised compensation for such deaths. Patil later clarified that he did not intend to hurt farmers' sentiments and was advising the media to wait for data before reporting on the number of farmer suicides.
The minister, who represents Basavana Bagevadi in the Assembly, has been involved in previous controversies. A video circulated on the internet showing him sitting nonchalantly at an event while others threw currency notes in the air. Patil claimed he did not throw money and happened to be present at the wedding event.
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