Bengaluru: Claiming that farm loans in Co-operative Banks will be waived off within 24 hours if he was voted to power, State BJP President and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa (BSY) has urged Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to come to the rescue of the distressed farming community by waiving off farm loans.

At a meet-the-press event here on Saturday, Yeddyurappa said during his recent visit to drought-hit areas, he found goshalas without sufficient fodder.

Referring to Mahadayi river water sharing issue, he said that he is ready to talk to the Chief Ministers of Goa and Maharashtra and get justice for Karnataka. Similarly, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and senior congress leaders should take up the responsibility of convincing the Opposition leaders in those two States, he added.

Maintaining that age will not come in the way of his becoming Chief Minister, the State BJP Chief said that he was now 74 and would enter his 75th year by the time a new Government is formed in the State in 2018.

Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Party National President Amit Shah have already announced that he is the Chief Ministerial candidate, Yeddyurappa asserted that there is no confusion in this regard.

Continuing, he said that National BJP President Amit Shah, while giving him the responsibility of accomplishing Mission-150, had clarified the age norm to him and added that the age criteria is not applicable to Karnataka.

Replying to another question, the BJP strongman claimed that he is free of corruption charges. Hence, there are no hurdles for him to become the Chief Minister, he added. Noting that de-notification cases against him pending in the Court would not be a deciding factor in the coming elections, he said that all the Chief Ministers had de-notified land during their tenure.

Stating that there were only two cases pending against him in the Court, Yeddyurappa maintained that he had been cleared of all charges in other cases.

“I don’t think charges of corruption against me will be an issue with the public in the coming Assembly elections,” he said.

Declaring that he would seek votes in the name of development, he said that it was not corruption against him, but corruption of the Siddharamaiah Government that would aid him in becoming the CM again.

Reiterating the party’s demand for farm loan waiver, Yeddyurappa said that if the State Government fails to waive off farmers’ loans by July end, then a massive protest by over three lakh farmers will be staged in Bengaluru.

Yeddyurappa, who is also the Shivamogga MP, said that there was an overwhelming demand from the people for him to contest from Shikaripura Assembly segment, which is at present represented by his son B.Y. Raghavendra. He would discuss the issue with senior party leaders and then take a call, he added.