Bengaluru May 30 (IANS) Karnataka will soon waive the loans of all farmers in two phases as promised in the manifesto of the ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) said Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday.
"In the next 15 days we will notify a two-phase scheme to waive loans of all farmers especially small and marginal who raised them from state cooperatives rural and state-run banks over the last nine years " Kumaraswamy told reporters after a meeting with representatives of about 30 farmers associations in the state secretariat here.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara who represents the Congress in the coalition government and opposition BJP s deputy leader in the Assembly Govind M. Karjol also participated in the meeting that lasted over two hours.
"As I am heading a coalition government I will have to discuss the modalities of the loan waiver with Congress leaders including its President Rahul Gandhi before notifying it " said Kumaraswamy.
Admitting that the JD-S had promised to waive farm loans including interest on them if elected to power the Chief Minister said as the party did not get a clear mandate in the May 12 Assembly elections he had to consult the Congress over the decision since it involved a huge amount (Rs 53 000 crore) of government funds.
"Only 36 JD-S candidates got elected relegating our party to the third position after the BJP with 104 seats and the Congress with 78 seats.
"As a result I could not fulfil the promise made in the manifesto. As we are committed to the welfare of the farmers we will waive their loans after consulting Congress and officials " he said.
The BJP has threatened to launch a mass agitation across the state if the JD-S-Congress government fails to waive off the farm loans at the earliest.
"I am committed to implement my promise on the waiver of farm loans " said Kumaraswamy.

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