Attempt being made to create "confusion" about budget: CM

With 10 days left for the JDS-Congress coalition government's first ever budget, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said an attempt was being made to create confusion about presentation of the full-fledged budget.

Kumaraswamy said he was not at any one's mercy, even as he tried to reaffirm his commitment to protect the interest of farmers with farm loan waiver.

On presentation of budget, he said "Talks are going on about whether budget has to be presented or not.

...I don't know, because, last time when budget was presented in February about hundred legislators who were there then have lost (election), and about hundred new people have come (as MLAs)," he said.

Addressing a meeting of representatives of cooperative banks, Kumaraswamy said "They (new MLAs) don't know (about old budget).

If I continue with the vote on account that was approved by the then MLAs, who have now lost, we will have to see whether it will lead to breach of privilege of new MLAs."
Kumaraswamy, without taking any names, said "Some have suggested that let the budget be presented after the parliament election, so there are issues.."
"Will I get commission from this? I don't get any commission from this loan waiver. I know to whom commissions go in governments."
"Some of our officials have told nationalised bank officials, how long this government will remain; it has come in the media also. They have said let them do new budget after the Parliament election."
He said on the one side there was pressure on him for farm loan waiver, while on the other, his officials are telling nationalised banks "negative things."