‘Will resign if I can’t waive farm loans’

Reiterating his commitment to waive farm loans, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that he will not hesitate to resign in case he is unable to do so.

Seeking one week’s time to allow him to take a decision on the loan waiver, the Chief Minister also appealed to the farmers to have patience and not to commit suicide.

On the loan waiver issue, he said: “I am not at the mercy of the 6.5 crore population of the State, but obligated to the Congress.”

“There is no need for anyone to ask me to resign if farm loan is not waived. I will not stick to the chair. A decision on the waiver will be taken after the formation of the Cabinet,” he said after offering floral tribute to the former Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on his 54th death anniversary.

“I am have become the Chief Minister for the welfare of the farmers. I am with you (farmers),” he said, accusing the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa of instigating farmers on this issue and dividing the society.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kumaraswamy had a long meeting with Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Dinesh Maheshwari on Sunday evening.

While the meeting lasted for over two hours, the Chief Minister’s Office said that it was a courtesy call after he took over as CM.

On Sunday, actor Shivarajkumar and his wife Geetha met the CM at his residence.

According to sources, the couple paid a courtesy call.

Incidentally, Geetha, daughter of the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, had contested from Shivamogga Parliamentary constituency on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket during the 2014 general elections. “I have known Mr. Kumaraswamy for a long time since he has worked in the industry as a film producer and we had come to congratulate him. No political issue was discussed,” Mr. Shivarajkumar said after the meeting.