India, Nov. 9 -- Senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil is in the eye of a storm after his comment yesterday on farmers and loan waivers. The water resources minister remarked that farmers took loans, got them waived, and then got into debt again, a process that had been going on for years. Similarly uncharitable remarks were made earlier by former agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also got immense flak.

"This process of creating a society, taking loans, getting the loans waived and demanding a loan waiver again after getting indebted has been going on for many years," said Vikhe-Patil, taking a jibe at the agrarian community. Within moments, however, he realised his mistake and continue...