BJP Never Promised Farm Loan Waiver in Manifesto: Maha Minister
The ongoing debate about farm loan waivers has taken a new turn in Maharashtra, with a minister from the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stating that the party never promised farm loan waivers in its manifesto for the 2024 state assembly elections. This statement comes as a response to a hunger strike by the founder of the Prahar Janshakti Party, Bachchu Kadu, who ended his seven-day strike in the Amravati district after the government assured to consider his demand for a complete farm loan waiver.
The statement made by Atul Save, a Maharashtra minister, has sparked a fresh controversy in the state, where farm loan waivers have been a contentious issue for several years. The BJP, which has been ruling the state since 2014, has been accused of reneging on its promises to farmers. The party’s manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections had promised to waive off farm loans, but the promise was never fulfilled.
Kadu, the founder of the Prahar Janshakti Party, had begun his hunger strike on October 10, demanding a complete farm loan waiver. His strike gained momentum, with thousands of farmers joining him in his demand. The government, under pressure from the farmers’ movement, finally agreed to consider Kadu’s demand, and the strike was called off.
However, the BJP’s statement on farm loan waivers has sparked a fresh controversy. Save, the Maharashtra minister, said that the party never promised farm loan waivers in its manifesto for the 2024 state assembly elections. “We have always been clear that we cannot provide loan waivers to farmers. It is a fiscal burden that the state cannot afford,” Save said.
The minister’s statement has been met with criticism from farmers’ organizations, who accuse the party of going back on its promises. “The BJP has always been inconsistent in its approach to farm loan waivers. First, they promise to waive off loans, and then they backpedal. It’s a betrayal of the trust of farmers,” said a farmer leader from the Amravati district.
The controversy over farm loan waivers is not new to Maharashtra. The state has been facing a severe agrarian crisis, with farmers struggling to repay their loans. The BJP’s promise to waive off farm loans was seen as a major boost to farmers, who had been demanding relief from the government.
However, the party’s failure to deliver on its promise has led to widespread disillusionment among farmers. The state’s farm loan waiver scheme, launched in 2019, has been criticized for being inadequate and inefficient. The scheme has waived off only a small portion of the total farm loans, leaving thousands of farmers struggling to repay their debts.
The controversy over farm loan waivers has also highlighted the need for sustainable solutions to the agrarian crisis in Maharashtra. The state’s farmers are facing a range of challenges, including low crop prices, high input costs, and inadequate infrastructure. The government’s failure to address these issues has led to widespread distress among farmers, who are forced to commit suicide due to financial pressures.
In conclusion, the statement made by the Maharashtra minister, Atul Save, has sparked a fresh controversy over farm loan waivers in the state. While the minister has claimed that the BJP never promised farm loan waivers in its manifesto, farmers’ organizations have accused the party of going back on its promises. The controversy highlights the need for sustainable solutions to the agrarian crisis in Maharashtra, and the need for the government to address the root causes of farmers’ distress.
