BJP threatens stir if HDK ‘backtracks’ on farm loan waiver promise

Kumaraswamy says a decision can be taken only after talks with Congress

H.D. Kumaraswamy seems to be facing his first big challenge even before taking oath as the Chief Minister — implementing the poll promise of complete farm loan waiver within 24 hours of coming to power.

On the eve of his swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Kumaraswamy was non-committal on the promise, saying a decision can be taken only after deliberations with the coalition partner Congress. The BJP has already begun capitalising on the issue by threatening a State-wide agitation if Mr. Kumaraswamy “backtracks” on the promise.

Speaking to mediapersons in Sringeri on Tuesday, he said he had told the people that he would waive farm loans if he was given absolute majority. “But people did not give me a majority. The election results has prompted comments that people have rejected the promise of loan waiver itself. However, my concern is welfare of farmers. Their happiness is most important,” he said. He said now that he was heading a coalition government, he would have to take the coalition partner into confidence before taking any decision.

However, later in the day, Mr. Kumaraswamy clarified that there was no question of going back on the promise of loan waiver.

In 2017

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who waived farm loans from co-operative banks up to ₹50,000 in 2017, had argued that the Union government had to share the burden of waiving farm loans from nationalised banks. The BJP had demanded a complete farm loan waiver and promised one in the run-up to the polls, whose bill is said to cross the ₹45,000 crore mark. B.S. Yeddyurappa, after taking oath as the Chief Minister on May 17 (a tenure that ended within three days), had announced that he would waive all loans in two days.

Now, the BJP has alleged that Mr. Kumaraswamy was “betraying the farmers of the State.”

“It’s unfortunate that Mr. Kumaraswamy has now backtracked on the issue on the grounds that a decision can be taken after analysing the financial condition and the compulsions of coalition politics. It is apparent that the JD(S) is trying to hoodwink the farmers,” former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa said at a press conference in Shivamogga on Tuesday. He demanded a decision on it in the first Cabinet meeting and threatened a State-wide agitation if there was any delay.