If chance was given to form govt. independently, I’d have waived off loans within 24 hrs: HDK
‘My decision is not final in coalition government’
Chikmagalur, May 22: Making a point that his decision is not the final in the coalition government, designated Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that if the JDS was given chance to form government independently, he would have waived off the farmers loan within 24 hours.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Sringeri Sharada Peetham along with his father and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda, brother HD Revanna and family members, at Sringeri on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy said that in his manifesto, he has promised to waive off the complete agriculture loans of the farmers if the JDS came to power in the state. But the people have given the majority to the JDS. In a coalition government, he alone could not take a decision on waiver off loans, he said.
In the election, voters have not given a clear mandate to any single party. At this situation, the Congress has come forward to extend its support to the JDS to form the government due to which JDS-Congress coalition government is being formed. Since it is a coalition government, he could not say anything about loan waiver at this time, he said.
“In the manifesto, I have clearly mentioned that I would waive off the loans completely within 24 hours of coming to power if the party is given majority. But people were not interested about loan waiver. People have not accepted this ambitious project. They have considered the assurance very lightly. Some people have been ridiculing about my assurance and speaking lightly. People have not given me the power. They have not elected me as the Chief Minister. So, I alone could not take a decision over this aspect. I would also take the Congress leaders into confidence, discuss and take a final decision”, he said.
The people have supported the JDS only in 38 constituencies. No party has got clear majority to form the government. As a result, the JDS-Congress combine has decided to form the government. When there is a coalition government, the JDS cannot implement its manifesto in toto. Both the partners should discuss and implement any programmes. Even the Congress has also promised some programmes in its manifesto. So, keeping in mind the welfare of the state and interests of the farmers and common people, both the parties would take decisions to implement the programmes mentioned in the manifestos. A clear decision would be taken only after discussing it in the cabinet. He would try to fulfill the expectations of all, he said.
JDS leaders SL Bhoje Gowda, Dharme Gowda, HH Devaraj, Harish, Venkatesh, HT Rajendra and others were present.
Designated Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, former PM HD Deve Gowda, former minister HD Revanna, Anitha Kumaraswamy and other family members participated in various religious rituals at Sharada Peeth. Both HD Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have come in two separate helicopters.
National leaders to attend swearing in programme
Formation of the coalition government itself is the biggest challenge he has ever taken up. People are suspecting the future of the government. It is not so easy to retain the government. People also have the same opinion, he said adding that AICC president Rahul Gandhi, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, DMK leader Stalin, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others would take part in the swearing in ceremony.
‘No discussion on creating two DyCM posts’
So far, no discussion was held on creating two Deputy Chief Ministers posts in the JDS-Congress coalition government. After conducting the floor test, leaders of both the parties would sit together and discuss the issue, Kumaraswamy said.
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'Brand Bharat' is statement of authenticity; of being Vishwa Bandhu, says EAM
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday extolled the idea of 'Brand Bharat' and said it is "statement of authenticity" in representation, articulation or beliefs, and equally a message that "we are now more comfortable in our own skin".
In a virtual address at India Ideas Conclave, he also underlined that it is also the "brand of Vishwa Bandhu" as on the big stage, a "multi-vector approach" engages the Quad and BRICS, Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Iran and the Global North and Global South.
Nations, like people, enterprises or services, have a reputation. When deeply entrenched into consciousness and easily recognisable, that becomes a brand. Obviously, it is related to the merits of the product and its track record, he said.
"When it comes to a country, the national brand is obviously a fusion and aggregation of different facets of its life. On the global stage, it is much more an integrated positioning of a multiple endeavors. We, in the world of diplomacy, have that responsibility. My thoughts today are about how we discharge that for an India that is more Bharat," Jaishankar said.
In his address, the external affairs minister encapsulated the journey of India from freedom struggle to gaining independence and the course the country took in the succeeding decades.
"Our initial decades after independence saw us struggling with the brand challenge. Given the ground situation, this was not unsurprising. A society recovering from two centuries of colonialism obviously had to painstakingly build itself up, creating new capabilities, institutions and practices," he said.
But at the end of the day, India entered the next century "intact as a polity, energetic as an economy and optimistic as a society".
"None of that could have been taken for granted and some, in fact, failed to make it," he underlined.
The Union minister, who virtually addressed the conclave hosted by India Foundation, lamented that earlier the country, at the global level, was "seen as sizeable player about whom there was limited expectation", and said, however, the last decade has seen a "big shift" in that regard.
"Economically, we are now perceived as much easier to do business. The transformation underway in infrastructure is also increasingly appreciated.
Whether it is the airports, metros, highways or railways, the achievements of the last decade stand out even by global standards. Perhaps, nothing has been more impactful than our embrace of digital technologies," he added.
Jaishankar then went on to expound what is 'Brand Bharat'.
"Bharat is a statement of authenticity, be it in representation, articulation or beliefs. Even our economic energies required a connotation of Atmanirbharta in that background," he asserted.
"It is equally a message that we are now more comfortable in our own skin, drawing on our own past, fashioning our own lexicon and advancing our own ideas," the Union minister added.
He said while recognising these developments, let us also realise that "we are not just one more country".
"Our history, tradition, culture and heritage makes us stand out. We are one of the rare ancient civilisations that have made a successful transition to a nation state. In the past, when our overall standing was less, perhaps this did not count for that much. But when juxtaposed with our achievements in so many fields, it now assumes very different connotation," Jaishankar added.
It is in this context that "we should reflect on Brand Bharat. The very term captures the civilisational aspect, while underlining how much more rooted we have become", he said.
"In a world asserting its independence from a globalised elite, it is an effort to engage the world more on our terms. The formulation of standing on the two legs of technology and tradition is one effective way of expressing Brand Bharat," Jaishankar said.
Coming from the domain of diplomacy, India naturally seek to advance that brand in more specific terms. That means defining how Bharat approaches the world, he said.
"There are a range of answers. The Global South sees a powerful advocate and the driver of Vaccine Maitri. Neighbours recognise a generous and non-reciprocal partner who stood by them during Covid, financial meltdowns or natural disasters. Democracies appreciate a confident partner whose choice has helped universalise their shared attributes," the minister asserted.
"The immediate region and beyond value an emerging 'first responder' and contributor to global goods. And on the big stage, a multi-vector approach engages the Quad and BRICS, Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Iran and the Global North and South. This is the brand of Vishwa Bandhu," he said.
