KRRS chief slams Karnataka govt, opposition, urges swift drought‑relief measures

In a blunt press briefing in Mysuru on Tuesday, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) chief Badagalapura Nagendra let rip at both the state government and the opposition, accusing them of turning a severe drought into a circus act.

‘We are living through an unprecedented drought,’ Nagendra said, his voice tinged with frustration. ‘Instead of acting, the government is busy with eyewash, while the opposition stages dramas on the streets.’

He reminded the audience that, despite clear signs of water scarcity sweeping across Karnataka and several other states, neither the centre nor the state had rolled out any real‑time, war‑room‑style plans to protect farmers and labourers.

‘Now they talk about studies and technicalities,’ he added, shaking his head. ‘These governments lack both the will and the humanity to provide the relief our people need.’

The KRRS chief warned that the drought’s toll could go beyond crop loss. “Farmers are being pushed towards suicide, cattle are dying for lack of fodder, and families are forced to migrate in search of a livelihood. Even drinking water is scarce.”

Calling for a pragmatic approach, Nagendra urged the state to set aside the usual NDRF and SDRF norms and use its own resources to compensate farmers for their losses. He said that only after addressing the immediate crisis should the state pursue any central assistance.

He also pointed to the growing pressure on banks to recover loans from drought‑hit farmers. “Banks are already starting recovery drives,” he noted. “The government must immediately instruct them to halt any loan‑recovery actions and consider a blanket waiver of farm loans.”

In his view, both the centre and the state share responsibility for mitigating the disaster. He called for a joint effort to waive debts, provide crop insurance payouts, and ensure that no farmer is left to fend for himself.

“The time for theatrics is over,” Nagendra concluded. “What we need is a concrete, compassionate drought‑relief programme that reaches the fields, the herders, and the labourers right now.”