Farmers will not benefit from loan waiver: Phundkar

Mumbai, Mar 12 (UNI) The loan waiver announced by the Union Government will not benefit the farmers and the government should do more to help the latter, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Pandurang Phundkar said here today.

While speaking to mediapersons, Mr Phundkar claimed that 27 farmers had committed suicide even after the Union Government announced the loan waiver. This has been brought to the government's notice by the Opposition which demanded a debate in the Council on the issue, keeping aside other discussions. The government, however, rejected the demand which compelled the Opposition to stage a walk out, Mr Phundkar said.

Mr Phundkar, while justifying the walk-out, said a discussion would have facilitated the budget discussion in the Council.

Phundkar alleged that the loan waiver is incomplete and will not benefit the farmers of Vidarbha and Marathwada as the land does not belong to the farmers. In most cases, the land is in the names of their parents and elders. ''The land is not transferred in the name of the toiling farmer till his parents are alive,'' said Mr Phundkar.

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