In the backdrop of crop loss and farmers’ suicides in Karnataka, the State government is expected to announce a special package to famers either in the form of crop loan waiver or interest waiver on loans at a farmers’ rally, which will be attended by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, in Haveri on Saturday.

Mr. Gandhi, who on Friday visited families of farmers who committed suicide in Mandya district, told the Media “We have some ideas on what has to be done for solving the farmers’ issues. The Chief Minister will announce it at a public meeting tomorrow [Saturday],” he said.

While it is not clear whether the state government will announce the crop loan waiver scheme or waiver of interest on loans. It may be recalled that A few days ago, the government announced waiver of interest on medium- and long-term on loans borrowed by famers from cooperative banks. So far, more than 500 farmers committed suicide across the State. The visit of Rahul Gandhi which was expected in August has been getting postponed for several reasons . However at the insistence of the party unit in Karnataka , the Congress Vice President paid a brief visit to Mandya on Friday and Haveri on Saturday.

During his much-awaited visit that lasted for around five hours in Mandya, Mr. Gandhi met the kin of two farmers who committed suicide recently and held two closed-door meeting with Mr. Siddaramaiah, and a few Cabinet Ministers on the farmers’ plight.

Following a demand from a large number of newly elected gram panchayat (GP) members, Mr. Gandhi told the Chief Minister to take steps to implement recommendations of K.R. Ramesh Kumar report on granting more power to GP members. The State government has sought Rs. 3,850 crore relief from the Centre to provide compensation to farmers who had lost crops due to drought in 136 taluks But the Centre has not released a single rupee to Karnataka, Mr Gandhi said.

The Amethi MP took a dig at the Prme Minister ,“Prime Minister Modi has money to announce Rs. 1.25 lakh crore package to Bihar just before elections there. What has he done to Karnataka?” Mr. Gandhi asked.