Coalition committee will decide on crop loan waiver: Gowda

While chief minister-designate H D Kumaraswamy flip-flopped on the contentious crop loan waiver issue on Tuesday, his father and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has said that the decision should be taken by the coordination committee of the JD(S)-Congress combine.

Speaking to reporters hours before his son's oath-taking ceremony, Gowda said, "Has the JD(S) got an absolute majority to waive crop loans? Is it possible to waive off crop loans with just 37 MLAs? The coordination committee must take a decision on the matter. We need to ensure that there are no differences in the coalition. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah is in the committee - let it be discussed there."

While Gowda made way to Vidhana Soudha to inspect the preparations being made for the oath-taking ceremony, Kumaraswamy, accompanied by his wife Anitha, has headed to Mysuru and Ramanagara to offer special pujas at the Goddess Chamundeshwari temples.

The JD(S) leader, who was accused of having made a U-turn on the crop loan waiver issue, reiterated that he would not backtrack.

'Top priority'

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Kumaraswamy said that safeguarding the interest of the farming community was his "top priority".

"I have just taken the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari. I don't want the farmers to be apprehensive. I have not made a U-turn as speculated by certain sections of the media or as accused by the BJP. I am still committed to the promises I have made - don't doubt me. I have only said that I have to discuss this matter with my coalition partner (Congress)," he said.

Kumaraswamy had come under attack by the BJP after he stated that waiving crop loans would be a difficult proposition in a collision setup; during his visit to Dharmasthala on Tuesday.

Following this, he had appealed to the farming community not to pay heed to "rumours".

Meanwhile, Congress leader G Parameshwara too made a temple visit ahead of his oath-taking. Parameshwara, who will be sworn in as Kumaraswamy's deputy, offered puja at the Ganesha temple in R T Nagar in the city. He was accompanied by his wife Kannika.