Hunsur: It was a red letter day for farmers of Uddur-Aspatrkaval in Hunsur taluk as Chief Minister Siddharamaiah distributed cultivation certificates to them at a programme organised at Muneshwara Kaval grounds in Hunsur town yesterday.

The farmers had waited for nearly 55 years to get the certificates, which they badly needed to claim their rights over the land.

Speaking on the occasion, Siddharamaiah said that the distribution of certificates has made the lives of farmers secure after years of struggle.

Pointing out that more than 3,000 acres of land has been distributed among 738 farmers, he asserted that his Government was doing everything possible for the welfare of poor farmers and agricultural labourers.

Referring to Pourakarmikas, the Chief Minister said that the regularisation of contract Pourakarmikas will be done soon and added that the Government had set aside Rs. 27,702 crore for SCP and TSP schemes.

Claiming that Dr. Manmohan Singh as UPA Prime Minister had waived off Rs. 72,000 crore farm loans, the Chief Minister said that the present Narendra Modi Government was doing little for the welfare of farmers.

Noting that the Public Sector Banks had extended Rs. 52,000 crore farm loans and Co-operative Banks Rs. 42,000 crore, Siddharamaiah asked BJP State President B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is demanding loan waiver, to take up the issue with PM Modi and exert pressure on him (PM).

Maintaining that his Government had given corruption-free Governance for the past four years, the CM said that his Government had de-notified 3,800 acres of land in response to MLA H.P. Manjunath’s plea and distributed it amongst landless farmers.

Asserting that his Government had fulfilled most of the pre-poll promises, the CM said that his Government had retained the confidence of the people and this was evident in Nanjangud and Gundlupet by-polls.

Declaring that sitting MLA H.P. Manjunath would be the Congress candidate for 2018 Assembly polls, he called upon the electorate to re-elect Manjunath.

Stating that his Government was committed for a hunger-free Karnataka, Siddharamaiah said that the State Government’s ‘Anna Bhagya’ flagship scheme was a big step in this regard.

Explaining various welfare schemes of his Government, the Chief Minister said that the ‘Anna Bhagya’ and ‘Ksheera Bhagya’ schemes were model schemes which has inspired many other States to follow.

District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait and Hunsur MLA H.P. Manjunath too spoke on the occasion.

Urban Development Minister Roshan Baig, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Soujanya, Tahsildar Mohan, Corporations and Boards Chairman H.S. Nanjappa, H.A. Venkatesh, G.V. Sitaram, N. Nandakumar, K.G. Mahesh and others were present.