Not Indebted To The Six And A Half Crore People Of Karnataka, But To The Congress: CM Kumaraswamy

Making a controversial statement just days after taking oath as the Chief Minister of the state, H D Kumaraswamy has said that he is not indebted to the six and a half crore people of the state, but to the Congress party, Deccan Herald reports.

According to the report, the Janata Dal (Secular) leader made the comment while talking to the media after garlanding former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's portrait on his 54th death anniversary. Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said his government would not take any decision without consulting the Congress.

"I am not indebted to the six and a half crore people of the state. I am indebted to the Congress. I appeal to the farmers to give me one week's time. Nobody should commit suicide. In case I fail to waive crop loans, then I will resign as chief minister voluntarily. I don't want anybody pressuring me to resign from my post," he said.

In an interview with the Mint just weeks ahead of the elections, Kumaraswamy had labelled the Congress party as a threat to democracy in India.

On the question of a farm-loan waiver, over which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called a state-wide bandh, he said he would announce the government’s decision on the issue within a week and urged the farmers not to commit suicide.

He accused Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa of provoking farmers to commit suicides.

"I don't want any farmer organisation exerting pressure on me. I know what such organisations have done during the elections. I will not hang on to the seat of power. Yeddyurappa should stop provoking farmers to commit suicides. He must be humane. What if some farmer commits suicide having listened to these provocative statements of politicians?,” he was quoted as saying.