Much-hyped debt waiver scheme is mere eyewash: Vikram Verma

Bhopal, June 22 (UNI) BJP Vice-President Vikram Verma today alleged that the farmers' debt waiver scheme launched by the Centre is merely an eyewash.

''The amount of debt waiver was being declared as Rs 71,000 crore. However, in reality this amount is merely Rs 22,000 core. The Centre has not provided details of exact amount that has to be waived. Meanwhile, banks have not received any directions,'' Mr Verma told a divisional convention of 'kisan prahris' here.

Claiming that the BJP was the real well-wisher of peasants, he said the Congress had always been cheating farmers.

Madhya Pradesh BJP President Narendra Singh Tomar said the government was providing loans to farmers at five per cent interest rate, power at 75 paise per unit and irrigation budget has been hiked from Rs 455 crore to Rs 2,400 crore.

BJP Kisan Morcha President Vinod Pandey urged 'kisan prahris' to cooperate in better implementation of farmer-related schemes the state.

Party sources said following the directions of the party's central leadership, the BJP is appointing 'kisan prahris' for resolving problems of farmers in various states. So far, 'kisan prahris' had been appointed in 7,000 villages out of 52,000 villages in Madhya Pradesh.

UNI PKJ-PS 1903