Karnataka chief-minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has asserted that he wouldn’t relinquish power (as chief-minister) without waiving farmers’ loans.

Son of former prime-minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy is leading a minority Govt. which is being propped up by Congress. As is obvious, the Govt. can last only at the mercy of Congress, which is supporting the JD(S) Govt. with the sole objective of keeping the BJP out of power.

Kumaraswamy attended an event at Bagalkot wherein farmers were formally handed over the certificate from the respective Banks for waiving off the loans they had taken. Speaking on the occasion, Kumaraswamy denied the State BJP’s charge against him that he was cheating farmers in the loan-waiver issue.

“We have taken a firm and determined decision to waive off loans. We won’t cheat or disappoint farmers. I make a promise in the name of my son that I would waive off all agricultural loans taken by farmers. Believe me, I’m here to do what I’m assuring. Give us strength to rule the State; fortunately, the Govt. doesn’t face any threat from the Congress for the time being.

“I won’t relinquish my post (as CM) without unconditionally waiving off all loans taken by farmers. The loan-waiver would benefit 44 lakh farmers. The budget for the financial year 2019-20 would contain announcements in this regard. I’m not an enemy of North Karnataka and I treat all regions alike,” Kumaraswamy concluded.