Will resign if I can’t waive farm loans, says HDK

Bengaluru: Chief Minister H.D.Kumaraswamy has given a statement on Sunday that he will resign if he fails to waive farm loans. He sought a week’s time to decide on the loan waiver and appealed to the farmers not to commit suicide. He promised that a decision will be taken by the government after the formation of the Cabinet.

But he also admitted that he could not take a decision on his own, and had to take the coalition into confidence. “I am not at the mercy of the 6.5 crore population of the State, but obligated to the Congress,” he said. He accused former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa of tempting farmers with loan waiver and of dividing the society.

On Sunday evening, the CM had a meeting for over two hours with Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Dinesh Maheshwari. The Chief Minister’s office said that it was a matter of courtesy after becoming the CM. Kumaraswamy also met actor Shivarajkumar and his wife Geetha on Sunday.

Geetha, who is the daughter of former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, had contested from the Shivamogga Parliamentary constituency on a JD(S) ticket in the 2014 General Elections. She said that their visit to the CM’s residence was a matter of courtesy since they had known each other for a long time. Shivarajkumar said that they had met the CM to congratulate him on his success and added that they had not discussed any political issue.