Hours before taking oath as Chief Minister, the Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Kumaraswamy scotched reports that he was backtracking on farmers’ loan waiver issue as being speculated in a section of the media.
He told reporters atop Chamundi Hills here on Wednesday that the partners in coalition have to be taken into confidence and he cannot take a unilateral decision as the JD(S) did not have a full mandate. “But there would be no compromise on loan waiver.”
Mr. Kumaraswamy said he was committed to his vision of Karnataka but the programmes in the Congress manifesto too will have to be incorporated. There was no question of compromising on a few critical issues like loan waiver for farmers “no matter what the experts say’’.
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“I will be accessible to the farmers to enable them air their grievances and the government will strive to redress them. My only appeal to the farmers is not to resort to suicide and leave their family members in distress”.
‘Janasevak’
Mr. Kumaraswamy also sought to dispel the notion prevalent in certain quarters that he would patronise only the Vokkaliga community and said: “I belong to the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka and am not confined to any caste or class. It is my responsibility to provide succour and protection to the people of the State as a ‘Janasevak’ and I appeal to the public to give up this obsession with caste.”
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On the role of Mr. Siddaramaiah, he said it would be known in two days. He criticised the BJP for flak for observing “Anti-People Mandate Day’’. The BJP has no concern for the people and has a tendency to whip up passions and emotions in society for political gains and hence nothing more could be expected from it, he said.
Earlier, Mr. Kumaraswamy who began his 2018 election campaign with a visit to Sri Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills, had darshan and offered prayers. He also called upon the Suttur seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji and sought his blessings.
“I have sought the blessings of the Goddess and the seer to enable me to discharge my responsibility as Chief Minister. Though my party did not get full mandate, I have become the Chief Minister through the grace of God and I take this opportunity to thank the workers and leaders of both the JD(S) and the Congress,” he added.