JDS promises loan waiver, CET abolition

Releasing the party's manifesto for the forthcoming Assembly election in Karnataka, he said the party would give relief to families of farmers who have committed suicide by writing off their loans, waive loans to labourers and artisans, and fill up all government vacancies.

The party, which shared power with the Congress and the BJP under coalition arrangement in Karnataka, today declared that it would not have any post-poll alliance with these parties again.

"We have already suffered enough by supporting the Congress government led by N Dharam Singh and also sharing power to BJP. We will not repeat it," former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H D Devegowda said at a press conference here after releasing his party's manifesto for the May assembly election.

BPL cardholders' families would be provided stoves, he said. He dubbed as 'false assurance', the Congress and BJP promise of free power to farmers.

Gowda said the government would stand guarantee for bank loan availed by the educated unemployed to start self-employment ventures, but was opposed to payment of dole to them.

The manifesto said the JDS would launch "Soubhagya" housing scheme to provide houses to all homeless within five years and introduce "Suraksha", a new insurance policy for owners of rickshaws, taxis, private lorries and buses, to pay compensation to the families of deceased drivers.

Loans taken by unorganised labourers from various corporations would be written off and a new mining policy would be introduced to curb illegal minings, manifesto drafting committee chairman Abdul Azeem said.

The party also unveiled plans to improve infrastructure in Bangalore and internal reservation to those castes who were deprived of the benefits.