Onus of protecting govt for 5 yrs on Siddaramaiah: CM

Merely days after taking a swipe at his coalition partner Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday claimed that his predecessor would “protect” the coalition government for the next five years.

Speaking in the Legislative Council on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, Kumaraswamy dismissed rumours of instability in the government.

The BJP members taunted the coalition partners by repeatedly bringing up the “differences of opinion” between Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah, and by raising suspicion over the government completing its term. There were also repeated mentions of Siddaramaiah “stirring” the political cauldron during his recent visit to Shanthivana in Dharmasthala.

“There was constant speculation on whether Siddaramaiah will bring this government down and that the coalition will not last long owing to the differences between me and him. But he is the one who will help the government survive for the next five years,” Kumaraswamy said.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Kota Srinivas Poojary said that there were contradictions in statements made by Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy and other leaders like G Parameshwara on the budget. He said that the government had not “taken off” as the district incharge ministers had not been appointed.

“The BJP is trying to take credit for farm loan waiver. But Yeddyurappa had refused to waive farm loans in 2009. Today, the BJP is saying that Siddaramaiah created unrest sitting in Shanthivana (Dharmasthala). But within two months of JD(S) forging an alliance with the BJP, I was accused of taking a bribe of Rs 150 crore,” Kumaraswamy said.

“I had thought that my party would win 120 seats. When I claimed that I was a child of circumstances, the BJP had said that I have no father or mother. But I have both - the JD(S) and Congress legislators play the role of my parents. Every day, hundreds of people line up in front of my house or Vidhana Soudha seeking aid. People haven’t forgotten this government. Be patient. It isn’t possible to achieve everything in just one month. If not two years, give the government at least two months,” he added.

Admitting that there was fiscal deficit, Kumaraswamy said the government was taking measures to mobilise resources to waive crop loans and launch/continue other programmes.