Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy greeted Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar at the 397th Aradhana of Sri Guru Budiswamy at Ukkinakante Mutt in Madahalli village of Hunsur taluk on Saturday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy has expressed concern over borrowing from the state government and warned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the situation will turn “miserable” in the coming days.
Attending the 397th Aradhana of Sri Guru Budiswamy at Sri Ukkinakante Mutt in Madahalli village of Hunsur taluk on Saturday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the state budget is a mere document of statistics which serves no purpose.
The chief minister’s warning that the situation may worsen in the coming days and that decisions must be taken cautiously. Addressing Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, who was also present, Mr. Kumaraswamy raised the issue of ₹2,000 being paid to women by the government under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
“I have no objection to your department giving ₹2,000 Gruha Lakshmi financial assistance to women. I am not opposed to the scheme. Around ₹70,000 to ₹75,000 crore could have been distributed under this scheme in the last three years. But where are you getting the money from?” he asked.
He said the state’s total debt has now reached ₹8.24 crore and the government plans to borrow another ₹1.32 crore this year. “Where does all that borrowed money go? There’s no capital spending and no government assets are created. So what exactly are you doing with all that borrowed money?” he asked.
He asked Ms. Hebbalkar to advise the Chief Minister on the matter. “Please give some advice to your chief minister. Otherwise the situation of the state will be miserable,” he warned.
Kumaraswamy said he served as chief minister twice for short periods. “When I promised to waive farm loans, many mocked me and asked how I would do it without money. Yet I implemented the loan waiver without borrowing from anywhere,” he said.
Several seers including Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswami of Suttur Mahasansthana, Siddalinga Mahaswami of Siddaganga Mutt and Sambasadashiva Swami of Ukkinakante Mutt graced the occasion.
Others present on the occasion included GD Harish Gowda, MLA, CN Manje Gowda, MLC and former MLAs SR Mahesh and Ashwin Kumar.
Published – March 7, 2026 7:59 PM IST
