'Ready to wait on farmloan waiver issue till budget presented'

Hitting out at the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, plagued by differences between them on presenting a full fledged budget, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa today said his party was ready to wait on the much awaitedfarm loan waiver issue till the budget was presented.

"We are seeing that this government is hesitating to keep up its promise, including farm loan waiver," he said.

The BJP chief said that on the one side Siddaramaiah,head of the Congress-JD(S) coordination committee, was saying there was no need to present a new budget and a supplementary budget was enough, while on the other,some Congress leaders,including Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara were maintaining there was a need for a new budget and they are not opposed to it.

"As the situation in such a shambles, people are waiting for the budget..... we are ready to wait till you (government) present the budget," he added.

Differences have emerged between the ruling coalition partners in Karnataka, Congress and JD(S) over presentation of full fledged budget by the new government.

While former Chief Minister and CLP leader Siddaramaiah has suggested that there was no need for a fresh budget and insisted that a supplementary budget would do,Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has insisted on presenting it, pointing out that the new government has to demonstrate its objectives to the people.

Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC chief G Parameshwara has said that it would be discussed in the coordination committee.

Stating that he has asked his party leaders to wait till the government presents the budget, Yeddyurappa said they were 'patiently' keeping a watch on the developments.

"In the interest of the people we will play our role as a responsible opposition. We don't have any plan to go behind power," he said.

Kumaraswamy is under intense pressure to announce farm loan waiver that his party, the JD(S) had promised in the run up to assembly elections in Karnataka.

After initially citing coalition compulsions for the delay on May 30, as opposition and farmers' bodies stepped up pressure on him to fulfil his pre-poll promise, Siddaramaiah had said the government will arrive at a decision to implement a two-phased scheme for farm loan waiver within 15 days.

With that period coming to an end on June 15, Kumaraswamy has reiterated that he is committed to waiving the farm loan and would announce it shortly.

Referring to the farm loan waiver, Yeddyurappa said Congress and JD(S) have to focus on fulfilling their promise made ahead of the assembly polls.

"We will see what they will do, how the budget will be.We are ready to wait for it.After that we will think about future course of action and agitation, if they dont keep up their promise in the interest of farmers and common man," he said.

Flaying Kumaraswamy for seeking 50 per cent support from the union government for his farm loan waiver initiative,he termed it as an attempt to put the onus on the centre.

"Centre has already made it clear.... in UP and Maharashtra, where BJP is in power, the union government did not give a penny when farmers loan were waived there.

Despite knowing this, they (government) are trying to create confusion among people by trying to shift the responsibility on the central government," Yeddyurappa said.

"The Chief Minister has to think of how fair is it to shift responsibility on the Centre? Within the limits of the states' finances, government has to fulfil the promise," he added.

Addressing the 4th meeting of the governing council of NITI Ayog in New Delhi yesterday, Kumaraswamy had requested the union government for 50 per cent support for his governments farm loan waiver initiative.

Kumaraswamy, who also holds the Finance portfolio, has already hinted about presenting the budget in the first week of July and has scheduled pre budget meetin meetings with various departments and their respective ministers, starting from June 21.