BANGALORE: Three Congress members of the Legislative Assembly have asked the Government to give details of funds set aside for providing loans to farmers at four per cent interest as NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) is unlikely to release more funds for loans.

Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli, K. Srinivasa Gowda and S.S. Patil warned against delay in release of funds to cooperative banks.

Replying to the debate, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said Rs. 445 crores has been released in the current financial year.

The Government is yet to release an instalment of Rs. 225 crores, and he will instruct the Finance Department to take immediate measures in this regard. Allocation of funds for implementing the loan scheme will be addressed shortly.

Police criticised

J.C. Madhuswamy (Janata Dal-United) and R. Roshan Baig (Congress) expressed their displeasure over the lack of preparedness in combating terrorist activities in the State, particularly Bangalore. Mr. Madhuswamy said a top official of the Central Bureau of Investigation has warned that Karnataka, particularly Bangalore, is a potential target of attack by terrorists. But the police have done little to protect the city, he said.

Intelligence inputs

Mr. Baig said Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil is emphatic that the Centre provided intelligence inputs about the attack on the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc.), but the State Government maintains it did not receive information. He demanded a clarification, and said the top police officers in charge of intelligence were presented Chief Minister's medals.

The Chief Minister informed S. Rajendran (Republican Party of India) that a proposal to streamline the intelligence wing and upgrading it is under consideration. There is a plan to strengthen security cover to the Vidhana Soudha and other buildings.

Mr. Rajendran criticised the intelligence failure on the part of the Bangalore police, and said they failed to protect scientists at the IISc.

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