A farmer couple in Mandya district, Karnataka, was found dead in an apparent suicide on Thursday, 30 July, after sustained crop failures and mounting debt, triggering a political confrontation on Friday, 31 July, as Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy visited the bereaved family and held the state's Congress government directly responsible for the tragedy.

What Happened

Meese Puttaswamy (58) and his wife Nagamma (55), residents of Hatna Bevukallu village in Mandya taluk, were found hanging from a tree on 30 July. The couple owned nearly five acres of agricultural land and lived with their children. According to local sources, Puttaswamy had accumulated loans from multiple lenders over the years. Consecutive crop failures, attributed to deficient rainfall, combined with escalating pressure from creditors, are believed to have driven the couple to take the extreme step.

Kumaraswamy's Visit and Attack on the State Government

Kumaraswamy travelled to Hatna Bevukallu village to offer condolences to the family and spoke to reporters afterwards, alleging that Karnataka was witnessing a fresh wave of farmer suicides. He said hundreds of farmers across several parts of the state were being pushed towards taking their own lives due to extensive crop losses.

'Instead of reaching out to distressed farmers, members of this government are busy posing for photographs in parched fields. What farmers need today is confidence and support, not photo opportunities,' he said.

The Union Minister also flagged that banks had begun issuing loan-recovery notices to farmers with outstanding dues, and questioned what concrete measures the state government had taken to mitigate the crisis.

Key Accusations Against the Congress Government

'The greatest tragedy is that Karnataka does not even have an Agriculture Minister at a time when farmers are facing such severe hardship,' Kumaraswamy said. He further accused the Congress leadership of prioritising cabinet expansion discussions over governance, and urged the government to immediately focus on delivering relief to drought-hit farmers across the state. He said the incident reflected the grim realities confronting the farming community statewide.

Context: Drought and Agrarian Distress in Karnataka

Karnataka has been grappling with deficient rainfall across multiple districts, with the Mandya region — traditionally dependent on the Cauvery river system for irrigation — among those affected. Farmer suicides linked to crop losses and indebtedness have been a recurring concern in the state. This incident comes amid a broader political standoff between the ruling Congress and opposition parties over the adequacy of drought relief measures. The absence of a dedicated Agriculture Minister in the current state cabinet has drawn criticism from multiple quarters.

What Comes Next

The political pressure on the Karnataka government is likely to intensify as the opposition demands immediate drought relief and loan waivers for affected farmers. Whether the state moves to announce a relief package or fast-track the appointment of an Agriculture Minister will be closely watched in the days ahead.