BJP Never Promised Farm Loan Waiver in Manifesto: Maha Minister
The ongoing debate over farm loan waivers in India has taken a new turn with a senior Maharashtra minister, Atul Save, stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 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 Prahar Janshakti Party founder, 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 BJP, which has been in power in Maharashtra since 2014, has been facing criticism from various quarters over its handling of the farm loan waiver issue. The party’s opponents have accused it of reneging on its promises to waive off farm loans, which has led to widespread dissatisfaction among farmers in the state.
In a recent statement, Minister Atul Save said that the BJP’s manifesto for the 2024 assembly elections did not promise farm loan waivers. “We have never promised farm loan waivers in our manifesto. Our government has taken several measures to support farmers, including increasing the minimum support price (MSP) for crops and implementing the PM-Kisan scheme,” Save said.
The minister’s statement has sparked a heated debate in the state, with farmers’ organizations and opposition parties questioning the government’s commitment to their welfare. The Prahar Janshakti Party, which has been demanding a complete farm loan waiver since the beginning of the year, has accused the government of not keeping its promises.
Bachchu Kadu, the founder of the Prahar Janshakti Party, ended his seven-day hunger strike in Amravati after the government assured to consider his demand for a complete farm loan waiver. “We will continue to fight for the rights of farmers until our demand is met,” Kadu said.
The issue of farm loan waivers has been a contentious one in India, with the central government and state governments taking differing stands on the issue. While some states, like Karnataka and Jharkhand, have waived off farm loans, others, like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, have refused to do so.
The BJP, which has been critical of farm loan waivers in the past, has maintained that such waivers are not a sustainable solution to the problems faced by farmers. Instead, the party has emphasized the need for long-term solutions, such as improving agricultural productivity and providing support to farmers through various schemes.
However, critics of the government argue that farm loan waivers are necessary to address the immediate needs of farmers, who are struggling to repay their loans due to a combination of factors, including low crop prices, poor weather conditions, and high interest rates.
The debate over farm loan waivers is likely to continue in the coming weeks, with farmers’ organizations and opposition parties pressing the government to take concrete steps to address their concerns. The BJP, meanwhile, is likely to stick to its stance that farm loan waivers are not a sustainable solution to the problems faced by farmers.
In conclusion, the statement by Maharashtra minister Atul Save that the BJP never promised farm loan waivers in its manifesto for the 2024 state assembly elections has sparked a heated debate in the state. While the government has taken several measures to support farmers, critics argue that more needs to be done to address their concerns. The issue of farm loan waivers is likely to remain a contentious one in India, with both the central government and state governments taking differing stands on the issue.
