K'taka minister says farmers wish for drought, triggers row

Karnataka minister Shivanand Patil's remark that farmers "wish for drought so that their loans will get waived" triggered sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) as they slammed the Congress and demanded an "unconditional apology" from the minister.

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Patil, however, argued that his statements were taken out of context.

Addressing an event in Belagavi district on Sunday, Patil who holds the sugarcane development and textiles portfolio was heard saying, "Water from Krishna river is free. Electricity is free. The chief minister also gave seeds and fertiliser. Now, farmers have only one wish that there should be repeated droughts, because their loans will be waived. You should not wish that way; even if you don't wish there will be drought once in three-four years."