Committed to waive farm loans: Karnataka CM
Bengaluru, June 19: Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government is committed to waiving farm loans.
"I am soon going to call a meeting with the nationalised banks to figure out the modalities to waive loans of farmers in a scientific way. Our government is highly committed to waiving farm loans," Kumaraswamy said at his maiden press conference here after assuming office on May 23.
The Chief Minister, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a two-day visit to New Delhi starting Sunday, said he has requested the Central government to bear 50 per cent of cost of the farm loans the state government plans to waive.
"As we are ready to waive loans to free farmers from debt, I request the Central government to provide 50 per cent financial support to our initiative," the JD-S leader had said at the fourth meeting of the governing council of Niti Aayog.
He also wrote to the Prime Minister on Monday to allocate 25 per cent of Rs 2 lakh-crore special bonds the Central government plans to raise to bail-out state-run banks to waive farm loans across the country.
Admitting that his JD-S did not receive people's mandate, the Chief Minister said his government will work for the all round development of the state and its citizens.
"The state government will work towards presenting a scheme which allows all the farmers to get loans without any difficulty."
The JD-S leader promised in the party's election manifesto that it would waive farm loans within 24 hours of assuming office if it was voted to power with a majority.
"Since we were not voted to power with a majority, we need to discuss with the other leaders in the coalition government," he said.
The Chief Minister who was late by 90 minutes for the press conference at Press Club in the city centre said he was busy with public visiting him at his home in the southern suburb.
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UCC only targets Muslims while other personal laws remain unaffected: Tushar Gandhi
Mangalore: Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and a prominent social activist, expressed strong concerns over the current political environment in India, stating that it deviates from the vision of the nation's founders. Speaking at a seminar in Mangalore on Monday, Gandhi emphasized that the unity that earned India its liberty has been overshadowed by divisive politics focused on caste and religion.
He was addressing a gathering at a one-day seminar and book release event organized by the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, Bangalore, in collaboration with Mangalore University, Mangala Gangotri, National Service Scheme (NSS), and the Kumbra Jathappa Rai Prasthistana, Puttur. The seminar was aimed at discussing the relevance of Gandhi’s ideology for today’s youth.
In his special address on the topic “Relevance of Gandhi’s Ideology to Today’s Youth,” Gandhi lamented how today’s political leaders have realized that dividing and ruling the electorate is the way forward. He expressed frustration that the electorate is often left to choose between poor political options, with no ideal candidates in sight. "We are in a zone where we have to elect from all the bad options. No ideal options are left when it comes to politics. We elect people who should be nowhere in public life," he said, underscoring the decline in political integrity.
Gandhi also criticized the ongoing discussions surrounding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He argued that the code disproportionately targets Muslims, while other personal laws remain unaffected. He pointed out that the current political regime’s push for UCC reflects an attempt to alter the Constitution through indirect means, calling it “changing the Constitution through the backdoor.”
In a pointed remark about the current atmosphere for minorities, Gandhi questioned whether a person from a minority community would feel comfortable or confident seeing an individual in an RSS uniform working at a government office. He asserted that this discomfort is exactly what the present regime seeks to instill in minorities, furthering their marginalization.
Gandhi’s remarks resonated with the audience, drawing attention to the stark contrast between the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and the prevailing political discourse. He warned that the political and social divisions seen today were far from what the nation's founders had envisioned, calling for a return to the principles of unity and secularism.
The seminar also featured notable speakers and dignitaries. Nadoja Dr. Wooday P. Krishna, President of the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, delivered the keynote address. Dr. Shantaram Shetty, Pro Vice Chancellor of Nitte University, Mangalore, was the guest of honor, releasing two books authored by Pramod Kumar Rai, founder of Kumbra Jathappa Rai Pratistana, Puttur. The books titled "On the Trail of Gandhi’s Footsteps" and "Before I Return to the Soil" reflect on Gandhi’s ideology and its impact on society.
Presiding over the event was Prof. P.L. Dharma, Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University, who praised the significance of such discussions in today’s context. Dr. Sheshappa K, NSS Coordinator of Mangalore University, and Prof. Ganapati Gowda, Principal of University College, Mangalore, were also present during the seminar.
