If voted to power, will waive Rs 51K-cr crop loans: Kumaraswamy

JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said that if his party is voted to power in the upcoming elections, his government would waive 

Rs 51,000 crore crop loans obtained by farmers of the state.

Addressing a youth rally in Devanahalli in Bengaluru Rural district, he said both the BJP and the Congress lacked concern for farmers. Though more than 3,000 farmers had committed suicide in the last four-and-a-half years, the government was busy splurging on promoting its achievements through Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's 'Navakarnataka Nirmana' programme.

He said if the JD(S) comes to power, his government would provide a monthly financial benefit of Rs 6,000 to pregnant women for six months and a pension of Rs 5,000 for the elderly and widows.

JD(S) youth wing president and Sorab MLA Madhu Bangarappa said if Kumaraswamy is voted to power, more than one crore youth would get jobs.

He said the BJP had betrayed north Karnataka farmers over Mahadayi issue, and that the party would be given a fitting reply in the elections.

Stating that several disgruntled Congress and BJP leaders would join the JD(S) in the coming days, Bangarappa expressed confidence that the party would win 113 seats.