BJP Never Promised Farm Loan Waiver in Manifesto: Maha Minister
The ongoing debate over farm loan waivers has taken a new turn in Maharashtra, with a senior minister claiming 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 seven-day hunger strike by Prahar Janshakti Party founder Bachchu Kadu, who ended his strike after the government assured to consider his demand for a complete farm loan waiver.
Atul Save, a minister in the Maharashtra government, made the statement while addressing a gathering in the Amravati district, where Kadu had been on hunger strike since June 14. Save claimed that the BJP’s manifesto did not promise farm loan waivers, and therefore, the government cannot be held responsible for fulfilling such a promise.
The recent statement by Save has sparked a heated debate, with many farmers and Opposition parties questioning the government’s stance. The controversy surrounding farm loan waivers has been brewing for months, with many farmers struggling to repay their loans to commercial banks and cooperative societies.
The issue gained momentum in 2020, when the then-Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, announced a loan waiver scheme for farmers. However, the scheme was later scrapped by the current government, citing financial constraints. Since then, several farmers’ organizations and political parties have been demanding a complete farm loan waiver.
Bachchu Kadu, who ended his hunger strike after meeting with a team of officials from the Maharashtra government, said that he was assured that the government would consider his demand for a complete farm loan waiver. Kadu, who has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of the farm loan waiver issue, claimed that the government’s statement was a “big victory” for the farmers of Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government’s stance on farm loan waivers has been criticized by several Opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress. NCP leader and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, said that the government’s refusal to provide farm loan waivers was “inhumane” and would lead to further distress among farmers.
The Congress party has also slammed the government’s stance, claiming that it was a “betrayal” of the trust placed by farmers in the BJP. “The BJP promised farm loan waivers during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but now they are saying that they never promised it. This is a clear case of deception,” said a Congress leader.
The debate over farm loan waivers has been ongoing for several years, with many experts arguing that such schemes are unsustainable and can lead to moral hazard. However, the current government’s stance has been criticized by many, who claim that it is ignoring the plight of struggling farmers.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding farm loan waivers in Maharashtra is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. While the government’s stance that the BJP never promised farm loan waivers in its manifesto is true, it is also important to address the financial struggles faced by many farmers. The government must find a way to balance its financial constraints with the need to support struggling farmers.
