BJP demands complete loan waiver for farmers

Mumbai, Mar 5 (UNI) Terming that the loan waiver of Rs 60,000 crore will benefit only cooperative banks that are mostly managed by NCP and Congress leaders, Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari today demanded a complete loan waiver for indebted farmers.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Gadkari said the party would demand the complete loan waiver for the farmers.

He said the party was also demanding a load shedding-free state and even free power for the farmers.

The BJP leader said the farmers in Vidarbha have agricultural land measuring over 10 acres and they are completely dependent on rain, while the farmers of western Maharashtra have land holding below five acres. So they are more likely to benefit from the loan waiver, he alleged.

Mr Gadkari alleged that Rs 2,312 crore from Prime Minister's package benefited the cooperative banks, which were running in losses.

He also alleged that 11 farmers have committed suicide in Vidarbha after the announcement of the loan waiver. The government hardly made any efforts to give loan to the farmers at reduced rates, he added.

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