BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday held his ground when he said, ‘I am not at anyones mercy here. Its not that someone gave me the CM chair as a charity.’
Kumaraswamy statement comes in response to the viral video of former CM Siddaramaiah having a secret meeting with his followers expressing his displeasure over the state budget.
In the video, Siddaramaiah was heard saying that, “He has become CM because of our support and there is a budget already presented by Congress in February 2018,” he added, reported India Today.
This anger Kumaraswamy who during a meeting on farm loan waiver with representatives of cooperative banks lashed out at Siddaramaiah for his comments. “I am not indebted to anyone. This seat (Chief Minister’s post) hasn’t been given to me in alms,” Kumaraswamy said.
“I don’t know whether I will present a budget or not. Discussions are being held about presenting it after Parliamentary elections. But about 100 legislators from the previous government have lost their seats and new people have been elected. Their requests need to be accommodated,” said Kumaraswamy, who also holds finance portfolio.
The farm loan waiver, was JD(S)’ top promise in its election manifesto. “The loan waiver should benefit the farmers. I am not getting a commission out of this. Middlemen and banks should not stand to benefit,” he said in an attempt to justify the waiver.