BJP warns of 'Karnataka Bandh' if HDK fails to fulfill his promises

Bengaluru: On Wednesday, while Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy sworn-in at the Vidhana Soudha, the BJP observed the day as an ‘anti-people’s mandate day’. They protested in Bengaluru against the swearing-in of the CM and BJP State President B.S. Yeddyurappa warned him that if the promised farm loan waiver is not implemented, a State bandh would be called.

Yeddyurappa said that it was the main promise of the JD(S) manifesto to waive farm loans of up to Rs. 1 lakh from both co-operative and nationalised banks, besides those taken from the private sector. He threatened that the BJP would launch a State-wide protest if this promise is not fulfilled.

He dismissed the presence of scores of non-NDA leaders from across the country at the oath taking ceremony of the CM. He said that the State would not accept those leaders and their political platforms. He also predicted that the coalition government will collapse in three months. Yeddyurappa also alleged that most of the Congress MLAs were disappointed by the alliance and he made an “open invitation” to the “disgruntled” Congress MLAs to come and join the BJP.

In the interim BSY additionally propelled an assault on Devegowda by reviewing the later’s announcement that he would sit in the opposition if the party doesn’t get the majority. “What has he done now?” BSY addressed tossing an open test to the JD(S) to confront the BJP in the coming elections. “I’ll change my name if BJP doesn’t win 150 seats next time,” he challenged JD(S) supremo H D Devegowda. 

The BJP workers held protests throughout the state on the eve of swearing-in function of new Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy. The protesters wore black bands to demonstrate their disappointment at the new government. In any case, there were no protests in Dakshina Kannada as the  district administration had clipped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of IPC.