Bhagyas vs farmers: 1st cracks in coalition

Bengaluru: While the coalition government is still trying to  find its feet, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy cryptically remarked on Friday that  he would continue to be CM at least till the 2019 Parliament elections raising doubts over the longevity of his government and whether all was well between the JD(S) and Congress on touchy issues like farm loan waivers and filling of cabinet vacancies.   In a burst of bravado he also said that "no one could touch him for the next one year."

Mr Kumaraswamy, who was addressing a function, said there were a lot of people who wanted the worst for his government, but  their wishful thinking would not come true.  On the issue of farm loan waiver, he denied that the government had backed out, saying instead that while "Deputy CM Dr G Parameshwar had never said the Congress is against the waiver, as the finance minister, I am telling you that farm loans will be waived."  

Recalling his earlier 20 month stint in power, Mr Kumaraswamy said  he had planned to build elevated roads on storm water drains. "Now I believe Bengaluru needs an ORR like Hyderabad,"  he added. A Chief Minister who gives as much importance to Bengaluru City as well as the farmers?      Economic advisor to chief minister, Dr S. Subramanya has been working out details of the loan waiver scheme in the light of instructions from Mr Kumaraswamy. Official sources said the intention of the Chief Minister was to pass on optimum benefits to genuine farmers who are solely dependent on income from agriculture.

"Banks have been asked to share details. This time, priority is that Income Tax assesses who own land should not get this benefit. For instance, a person having small holding in a village may be in big post in a city. Farm loan waiver with a upper limit cap might be misused by all because even the IT assesses too are eligible for it. This time we want to prevent such people from getting benefits," sources added.

Sources said the pre-poll promise of JD (S) would cost nearly Rs 85,000 crores in case the government decides to go ahead with the loan waiver scheme for farmers, weavers, women self help groups and other groups in rural areas. But, the government is likely to focus only on farmers, sources explained.