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Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Unite to bring back a farmer-friendly government
Gadag: Former chief minister and incumbent Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai called upon farmers to draw inspiration from the sacrifices made by fellow farmers and unite once again to bring back a farmer-friendly government in the state. He was speaking at the 35th Farmers' Martyrs Day organized by the Karnataka State Farmers' Association at Soratur village in Gadag taluk on Sunday. The MP said that Karnataka had a rich history of farmers' movements, with the Bagar Hukum movement holding a special significance. Although land reform laws were passed under the revenue department with the slogan 'The one who tills the land is its rightful owner,' even after 40–50 years, the process of issuing title deeds had failed, resulting in grave injustice to farmers.' Bommai said farmers belonged to no political party, but every political party claimed to represent farmers. Farmers lived in uncertainty—not knowing how much it will rain, what yield to expect, or what price they will get. 'Several farmers' organizations exist in Karnataka, but only when they unite can justice be truly delivered to the farmer. Recalling the Navalgund-Nargund movement of the 1970s and 80s, which was followed by the killing of farmers in Soratur, he said even today, the situation remained unchanged. Governments had implemented food schemes but pushed food providers into corners. Those who provided food were denied justice, he added. When he was chief minister, he had directed that seeds and fertilizers be maintained as buffer stock each year. This year, due to early rains, maize farmers were demanding urea fertilizer. The central government had provided the required urea, but there was corruption in the state's urea distribution system. Large dealers were selling it on the black market. He visited the Soratur society and found that no fertilizer was supplied to it, for it had been diverted to large traders. The former CMM said the sacrifices of the three brothers from Soratur—Mahalingappa Malleshappa Giddakenchannavar, Channabasappa Nirvahanashettar, and Devalappa Lamani—should not go in vain. Their sacrifices were a source of inspiration. Farmers must once again unite and bring a farmer-led government to power in the state. It was time to join hands for the farmer. The MP said: 'Here in Soratur, I am making a firm pledge. I will stand at the forefront of any farmer struggle. The land for the martyrs' memorial was donated by noble souls. I will build a proper arch and develop the memorial site. We must not forget those who nurtured us, those who sacrificed for us. S.S. Patil, who established the first cooperative society in Karnataka, organized farmers everywhere. I had visited Kanaginahal during his centenary. We had requested the government to build a memorial for him, but it did not respond. Eventually, I myself built the memorial. I say this with great pride,' he said. On the occasion, floral tributes were offered to the martyrs of the Bagar Hukum movement—late Mahalingappa Malleshappa Giddakenchannavar, Channabasappa Nirvahanashettar, and Devalappa Lamani—who lost their lives on July 27, 1990.
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Business Standard
20-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
GST burden on small traders: Bommai urges CM Siddaramaiah to intervene
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Basavaraj Bommai criticised the state's Commercial Tax Department over what he described as an "unfair imposition" of Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues on small and micro traders, urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step in and provide immediate relief. In a post on social media platform X, Bommai said the move has come as a "GST shock" to small business owners and is "highly condemnable." "The action of the Karnataka State Government's Commercial Taxes Department in imposing a GST shock on small and micro-business owners is highly condemnable. Under the GST law, there are certain concessions for conducting business transactions. There is a system where tax must be paid after availing those concessions," his post read. He further said that in this matter, the State Commercial Taxes Department, in haste, has imposed taxes for several years along with interest and other charges, placing a heavy burden on small roadside business owners, pushing them to a situation where they may have to shut down their businesses, which is unacceptable to anyone. "By inviting representatives of the concerned small business owners for discussions and providing them with all kinds of concessions, assistance should be extended to them under the tax settlement scheme, just as it is done for other taxpayers. I demand that the measures taken in other states regarding this issue be implemented here as well, keeping in mind the interests of small business owners and consumers," he further said. "I urge Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene in this matter immediately and provide relief to small business owners. Amid discussions at the highest levels of the Commercial Taxes Department, it is said that this action was taken due to financial difficulties in the state, an empty treasury, and a shortfall in tax collection in the first quarter of this year, prompting such stringent measures out of panic. In this context, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must provide a solution to this issue," he added. He urged that representatives of the affected small traders be called for discussions and that they be granted all possible concessions. Just as assistance is extended to taxpayers under the Karasamadhana Scheme, similar support should be extended to these small traders. Bommai further stated that other states have already taken appropriate measures in this regard, and such measures must be adopted in Karnataka as well, keeping in mind the interests of small traders and consumers. He noted that due to financial constraints and a shortfall in tax collections during the first quarter of this fiscal year, the state treasury is under pressure. As a result, the Commercial Tax Department has taken this harsh step in haste, following instructions from the top. Given this background, he insisted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must step in and offer a suitable remedy. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Banks should guide entrepreneurs properly: MP Bommai
Gadag: Banks must take appropriate action and provide proper guidance in disbursing loans to entrepreneurs, including small-scale industries. If adequate loans are provided to the industrial sector, it will foster the development of industries in the district and create more employment opportunities for youth, said former chief minister and member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai . He was presiding over the Lead Bank's (DCC and DLRC) advisory committee and progress review meeting held on Thursday at the District Panchayat auditorium in Gadag. The MP said banks play a crucial role in the economic and social development of the district. If banks carry out their responsibilities in a citizen-friendly manner, it will contribute to the district's rapid progress. In case there are any issues in the loan disbursement to entrepreneurs, including small-scale industries, they must be addressed through proper discussions with the district administration and departments. Gadag, being an agriculture-dominant district, should ensure that farmers do not face undue delays in receiving loans. The district has good potential for food-processing units, and hence, meetings should be held with departments to ensure effective implementation of such schemes, Bommai said. The MP also stated that if banks work with genuine interest, they will be able to effectively deliver the benefits of schemes to the beneficiaries. Bommai urged banks to give higher priority to loan disbursal in the agricultural sector and also to MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). Chief executive officer of the district panchayat, Bharat S, said if banks face any issues while disbursing loans under schemes, they must bring it to the attention of the district administration and department officials concerned. Lead Bank manager Santosh MV said 182 branches of the Lead Bank are operating in the district. As of June 2025, the Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio in the district stood at 98.16%. All controlling officers of banks have been directed to improve the CD ratio of their branches. The meeting was attended by deputy commissioner N Sridhar, SBI RB officer and regional manager Nagasubba Reddy B, RBI AGM (LDO) Suraj S, NABARD AGM (DDM) Mayur Kamble, GP Urban Development Fund Project director Basanagoudar Kottur, joint director of agriculture Taramani GH, GP planning officer Chalagere, women and child development department officer Radha Mannur, and other officials from departments and banks.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bommai tells banks to provide financial guidance to micro, medium industries
BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has asked bankers to provide suitable guidance with regard to finances along with providing loans to industrialists running micro and medium industries. Chairing a District Consultative Committee (DCC) and District Level Review Committee (DLRC) meeting of the Lead Bank in Gadag on Thursday, Mr. Bommai said that the bankers have played an important role in the economic and social development of the district. 'If bankers discharge their duties with a people-friendly approach, then the development of the district will happen at a faster pace. If there are any problems with regard to providing financial assistance to industrialists, bankers should discuss the issue with the district administration and various departments to get them resolved,' he said. As Gadag is predominantly an agrarian district, there should not be any delay in providing farm loans, Mr. Bommai said. Mr. Bommai, who is a former Chief Minister, said that as there is a great scope for food processing industries in the district, officials should chalk out programmes in consultation with various other departments concerned for the purpose. Chief Executive Officer of Gadag Zilla Panchayat Bharath S. asked bankers to raise any issue concerning loan disbursement with regard to government-sponsored schemes immediately with the district administration. Manager of Lead Bank Santosh M.V. said that of the 182 branches of the Lead Bank in the district, advances-deposit ratio at the end of June 2025 stood at 98.16% and bankers have been asked to improve the ratio. He said that in the annual credit plan, ₹85,461.97 lakh advances have been given to the farm sector till June-end and advances to the tune of ₹1,28,065.08 lakh have been given to the priority sector. During the meeting, progress of various State and Centrally-sponsored schemes was reviewed and a handbook on Annual Action Plan and District Credit Plan was released. Deputy Commissioner C.N. Sridhar, Nagasubba Reddy B. of SBI RBO, Suraj S. of RBI, Mayur Kamble of NABARD and others were present.
Hans India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Cong Mysuru convention, show of strength amid internal conflict: Bommai
Haveri: The Congress party is holding a convention in Mysuru on July 19 to showcase its internal power struggles rather than achievements, said former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai. Speaking to the media in Haveri on Wednesday, he said Congress has not achieved enough to warrant a convention. They had earlier planned a show of strength in Hassan under the pretext of a convention of achievements. Now, that is being done in Mysuru. The fact that the party in-charge has already held meetings with ministers shows that things are not right within the party. The internal conflict continues without a full stop. Unless the Congress High Command gives clear direction, this unrest will persist. It even seems like the High Command itself wants this confusion to continue. On the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project, Bommai said, it is a project that can generate around 2,000 megawatts of electricity at a relatively low cost. About 38 hectares of forest land will be affected. Forests should be grown in alternative areas and the surrounding forest must be protected. The project has already received conditional approval, and it should proceed in adherence to those conditions. When asked about the Congress allegation that protocol was violated during the inauguration of the Sigandur bridge, the former CM said there was no violation of protocol in any manner.
