BENGALURU: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B S Yeddyurappa announced on Friday that his party would call for a state-wide bandh on Monday in case CM H.D. Kumaraswamy dithers on waiver of crops loans released to farmers by public sector banks and cooperative banks.
He told the media soon after leading a walkout by legislators of his party that the delay in writing off loans by the coalition government mirrored its apathy towards farmers. “We have decided to call for Karnataka bandh. And since elections will be held in R.R. Nagar Assembly constituency on Monday, we decided not to support the bandh in Bengaluru city. We have called upon all private transport operators to suspend trasnport service for a day to support the cause of farmers,” he added.
Mr Yeddyurappa, who was recognized as leader of Opposition by Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar before the trust vote, charged that Mr Kumaraswamy had promised to waive farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore, including those from public sector banks. “It was you (Mr Kumaraswamy) who promised waiving farm loans within 24 hours (after assuming office). The farmers will not be ready to buy your stories that you head a coalition government and it has its own compulsions. You have to announce it in this special session itself. Else, we will prepare an action plan to launch our agitation across the state," he said.
Mr Yeddyurappa said he would not comment on the Congress as it was already out to "finish" the JD(S). He, however, said the BJP's struggle was against the "anti-farmer, anti-people and corrupt government of Kumaraswamy."
To support his claim that the Kumaraswamy government would be corrupt, he quoted JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal's recent reported remark that no work would be possible without "suitcase" in the party. "Corruption during JD(S) government will only continue and nobody will bother to protect the interests of people," the BJP leader said.
The former CM said "Irrigation will not get priority. Under these circumstances, it is my duty as an opposition leader to continue our struggle to protect the interests of people.”
Mr Yeddyurappa had stepped down as chief minister two days after assuming office, without taking the floor test, on May 17.
