No harassment done to farmers for recovery: Mayawati

Lucknow, Feb 25 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today said farmers were not being harassed during recovery of dues in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region.

In a written reply to a question in UP assembly, the CM countered the charges and said ''no evidence of using force or any other illegal means was found against the administration or the revenue department for collecting dues from the farmer or seizing his tractor.'' The Chief Minister said the farmer died on August 12, 2007 due to the prolonged illness, not harassment.

According to the State Bank sources, Balduva, son of Jhangdu, Tikariya village, had taken a loan of Rs 2,89,000 from State Bank Jaitpur (Mahoba) branch on November 27, 2003. Further, on December 1, 2003 he took an additional amount of Rs 21,000 as an agricultural loan.

Following the rules, the bank recovery agent M/S Modi Associate, Jhansi seized the tractor on February 15, 2007 and registered the vehicle to Barhal, son of Babulal, resident of Kaithule, Jalaun for Rs 1,35,000.

No high-handedness or harassment is being done to farmers while collecting dues, the Chief Minister maintained.

UNI PDM VD KN1802