Delivering on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s most ambitious election promise of farm loan waiver is not proving to be an easy task for the coalition government. It has failed to come up with a concrete plan even as the 15 days time sought by Mr. Kumaraswamy to unveil his road map expired on June 14.
Meanwhile, to douse apprehensions about the government’s commitment, the Chief Minister tweeted, “Dear farmers, Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefiting maximum farmers. I am working on the modalities and will announce it shortly.”
Mr. Kumaraswamy, who is under attack from the Opposition BJP for not waiving farm loans immediately after taking charge, had said on May 30 that details of the farm loan waiver would be unveiled in 15 days after consultations with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The Chief Minister made this announcement after a meeting with farmers’ groups.
Asked about implementation of the Chief Minister’s promise of loan waiver, coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah on Thursday said, “It is part of the JD(S) manifesto and the proposed committee will look into it while preparing the common minimum programme.” The coordination committee has set up a five-member drafting committee to prepare the common minimum programme of the coalition government, which will also include the farm loan waiver.
Asked why there is no specific word from the coordination committee on the waiver, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said, “We cannot fix a deadline of 15 days to fulfil the promise on farm loan waiver. It is an issue that involves thousands of crores. We (the Congress) stand by Mr. Kumaraswamy’s promise. But we need time.”
However, Agriculture Minister N.H. Shivashankara Reddy said the modalities were being worked out.
During his election campaign, Mr. Kumaraswamy had said he would write off all farm loans within 24 hours of the JD(S) forming the government. Demanding loan waiver, the BJP had staged a protest in the State.
‘Confident of being CM till LS polls’
Mr. Kumaraswamy surprised many on Friday by claiming that he will continue to be the Chief Minister of Karnataka till the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
His statement triggered curiosity among the public in the light of brewing discontentment among senior leaders of both the Congress and the JD(S) over the Cabinet expansion and distribution of portfolios.
Speaking to reporters after addressing the 15th Karnataka State Convention of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India here, Mr. Kumaraswamy said no one could touch him for the next one year and that he would continue to be the Chief Minister till the next year’s general elections.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said the State had been receiving good monsoon rain and farmers were happy. He had determined to serve the people till his last day in office and nobody could disturb him from the Chief Minister’s chair for the next one year.
The Congress, which extended unconditional support to Mr. Kumaraswamy immediately after the election results were declared, later announced that he would be the Chief Minister for the next five years.
Meanwhile, source in the Janata Dal (Secular) said there was no need to attach much importance to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s statement and he would be the Chief Minister for the next five years. They said the comment was made in a lighter vein.
