K'taka cabinet expansion to be delayed

Mysore, May 15 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today announced that the cabinet expansion would be effected only after the office-of-profit controversy was resolved in Parliament.

Speaking to newspersons at the helipad here, he said a decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of the Coordination Committee, comprising representatives from the ruling JD (S) and the BJP, held in Bangalore yesterday. The appointment of chairmen to various Boards and Corporations would also be taken up only later, he added.

He said his government was committed to providing farm loans to farmers at four per cent interest rate. It would extend the loans after balancing the state's financial resources.

Asked about former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remark that the law and order situation in the state had worsened, Mr Kumaraswamy said the situation was peaceful and the state had good officers to handle any kind of situation. One should think twice before making such statements, he added.

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