Karnataka to give ₹2,500 aid to nearly 5 million farmers

…said the government would stand by farmers during what he described as an unprecedented drought. He also rejected suggestions that the declaration of drought affected taluks had been influenced by political pressure. “ Only taluks that meet the Central government’s prescribed guidelines and criteria have been declared drought-affected. We have not put any pressure on officials to include any such taluks. If it is proved that pressure was exerted, I am ready to face any punishment ,” he said. The statement comes a day after Congress MLA Yashwantharayagowda Patil submitted his resignation over the exclusion of Indi and Chadachan taluks from the drought affected list. Indi was subsequently added to…