At Congress' Mercy, Didn't Get People's Mandate: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that he is at the “mercy” of the Congress. When BJP raised the issue of farm loan waiver, that is a part of JD(S)’ manifesto, Kumaraswamy said that he will resign if he cannot waive farmer’s loan. He is in Delhi to meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other union leaders. He assured that he would waive off farmer loans.

Many media houses including The Times of India, posted the report with the headline “Not obligated to 6.5 crore people, but to Congress: Kumaraswamy.” The headline is misleading as the words are taken out of context and given a sensational twist.

The statement he made

“The people of the state rejected me and our party. I had sought an absolute majority. I have heard the statements of farm leaders too and how much they supported me,” CM Kumaraswamy said, reported NDTV.

He notes that his party was not selected with the people. He got the position of the CM because of Congress.

“Mine is not an independent government. I had requested the people to give me a mandate that prevents me from succumbing to any pressure other than you. But today I am at the mercy of the Congress. I am not under the pressure of the 6.5 crore people of the state,” Mr Kumaraswamy said.

The Chief Minister said he has certain compulsions as a politician. Slamming BJP and other farmers’ leaders, he said there was no need for any farmers’ association to pressurize him (on farm loan waiver).

“I am one step ahead of you to work for the farmers. You need not have to ask me for my resignation over farm loan waiver. If I fail to do that then I myself will resign from the post. Farm loan waiver is my priority. Can’t you wait for a week? Even the cabinet has not been formed yet,” he added.

Kumaraswamy asked farmers not to resort to taking an extreme step and wait for a week, till he figures out how to waive the loan.

Notably, in JD(S) manifesto it was written that if they come to power, then they will waive farm loans within 24 hours of forming the government. Hence, he was being pressured by everyone to waive off farm loans immediately. BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa had on May 25 announced a state-wide bandh on May 28 if farm loans worth Rs. 53,000 crore was not waived by then.