Karnataka - Shimoga   

Crop loan: Kagodu takes Kumaraswamy to task

By Our Special Correspondent

SHIMOGA, JAN. 11. Former Minister Kagodu Thimmappa has taken exception to the reported statement made by the Working President of the Janata Dal (Secular) State unit, H.D. Kumaraswamy, at Tirthahalli recently that his party will be forced to withdraw from the Coalition Government if the interest on crop loan is not waived.

At a press conference here today, Mr. Thimmappa urged Mr. Kumaraswamy to observe the norms of the coalition arrangement as any adverse comments will have a bearing on the functioning of the Government. "Mr. Kumaraswamy should not speak like an Opposition leader," he said.

He said it is better for the leaders of both the parties in the coalition to refrain from making controversial statements in the interest of the Government.

Making it clear that his party is not opposed to waiving interest on crop loans, he said that in fact, the Government had announced several programmes in this regard.

He said that even at the time of framing the Common Minimum Programmes, the Congress suggested that the interest rate on crop loans be fixed at 5 per cent. But the Janata Dal (S) suggested that 7 per cent be fixed as the interest rate, he added.

Instead of making public statements on delicate matters, Mr. Kumaraswamy should convince the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who holds the Finance portfolio, about the need to waive the interest on crop loans. "If Mr. Siddharamaiah tables a proposal to this effect before the Cabinet, the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, will give his assent to it," he said.

IT

He also charged Mr. Kumaraswamy of dragging the name of the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, needlessly while criticising the priority being accorded to the information technology sector. "Similarly, it is not proper for us to criticise the Janata Dal (S) President, H.D. Deve Gowda," he added.

Mr. Thimmappa wondered why should there be any grouse on the implementation of development works when key portfolios such as Finance, Public Works, Revenue and Rural Development are held by Ministers belonging to the Janata Dal (S).

Meet

To a question, he said defeated Congress ministers and legislators will meet on January 18 to formulate a strategy to strengthen the party. They will also meet the Chief Minister in this connection on the same day.

He denied that development works in Shimoga district has suffered in the absence of the Minister in charge of the district.

When his attention was drawn to the reported remarks by the former Chief Minister and Shimoga MP, S. Bangarappa, that leaders in other parties are "afraid of him," Mr. Thimmappa said it is ridiculous to make such statements. "Nobody is afraid of him," he added.

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