Siddaramaiah to Congress workers: Be wary of BJP designs

Mangluru: Handing out a stern warning that communal elements will be dealt with an iron hand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said police officers have been told to book such elements under the Goonda Act.

“I have given strict instructions to police officers to take strict action against anybody who indulges in communal activities. Any communal element should be booked under Goonda Act,” Mr Siddaramaiah, who was in Mangaluru on Saturday to inaugurate birth centenary celebrations of the Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, told the media.

Speaking at the inaugural of birth centenary celebrations later, he said “Our workers need to be very careful of the BJP which does not want poverty eradication or similar programmes, but is trying to divide the society in the name of Hindutva particularly in coastal districts. Our country does not belong to people of one religion. The Constitution has bestowed equal rights on people of communities and religion.”

On the issue of waiver of loans of farmers, Mr Siddaramaiah said of the total amount of Rs 45,000 crores disbursed as loans, people had borrowed about rS 35,000 crores from public sector banks and about Rs 10,000 crores from co-operation banks. “I have made it clear that if the Union government waives half, then we will waive the remaining half,” he said.

Taking a dig at JD (S) leader Mr H D Kumaraswamy on his decision to shift his residence to Hubballi, Mr Siddaramaiah said the former chief minister has come to terms with the fact that JD (S) has lost its base in Old Mysore region to the Congress. “Mr Kumaraswamy has assured that if voted to power, loans will be waived. The JD(S) will not come to power, so there is no question of loan waiver,” the Chief Minister added.

Indira centenary: Interest-free loans for SHGs

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the most of birth centenary celebrations of the late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, with an announcement that women self-help groups will get interest-free loans, on Saturday.

Describing Mrs Gandhi as a role model, Mr Siddaramaiah said the state government was emulating the example set by the late leader.  “We are celebrating the birth centenary of Mr Indira Gandhi. At present, the government is providing loan to women self-help groups at four per cent interest. On this occasion, I like to declare that the state government will provide loans at zero per cent interest,” he added.

He said that the new initiative will be fine-tuned after a detailed discussion during the legislature session commencing in Belagavi next week. His latest sop for women self-help groups comes close on the heels of a decision to hike the subsidy for milk producers by Rs 1 (from Rs 4 to Rs 5) in view of the acute drought plaguing the state.

During his interaction with the media, the Chief Minister welcomed the move to curb black money but criticized the Union government for demonetizing high value currency notes without adequate preparations.