Karnataka: Kumaraswamy promises farm loan waiver in 15 days

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday met representatives of farmers groups and progressive peasants in Bengaluru to discuss the problems faced by them.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, his deputy G Parameshwara and Chief Secretary Ratnaprabha (L) during a meeting with the farmers on the issue of loan waiver, in Bengaluru on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (PTI Photo)

BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday met representatives of farmers groups and progressive peasants in Bengaluru to discuss the problems faced by them. During the meeting, he promised to honour his commitment to waive farm loans within next 15 days. "We will come to a decision in 15 days. In 15 days, it will get completely Implemented....Whatever may be the difficulty, our government is committed to maintaining fiscal discipline, and also saving you (farmers)," Kumaraswamy was quoted as saying by PTI. He was under attack from the BJP over the alleged delay in fulfilling his pre-poll assurance to the farming community. Kumaraswamy during the Karnataka elections campaign had said he would waive farm loans within 24 hours if his party comes to power.

#WATCH: At meeting with farmer leaders, #Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy speaks on farmers' loan waiver, says, 'Without the blessing of people, but only with blessing of Rahul Gandhi, we've come to power. I'll convince Congress party, but I can only take decision once they approve.' pic.twitter.com/VQiNuPA9oN

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2018

Kumaraswamy said he and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara will discuss the issue with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. "I'm getting it (the loan amount) calculated, whatever thousand crore rupees it is....saving you is our government's responsibility," he said. Kumaraswamy is running a JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka. Kumaraswamy also said he would call a meeting of representatives of nationalised banks in 2-3 days and seek information about farm loans extended by them. The chief minister had recently said he would retire from politics if he failed to honour the promise, and asked farmers not to "fall prey to the BJP conspiracy".