Loksatta Party targets Rahul Gandhi over loan waiver offer

, Apr 26: The Loksatta Party today criticised Congress vice-president

over his promise to waive farmers' bank loans of up to Rs two lakh.

Terming Rahul's offer as "irresponsible", the national president of the Loksatta Party, Jayaprakash Narayan sought to know whether it would be applicable to the farmers in Seemandhra as well as Telangana.

"Rahul Gandhi's promise to waive farmers' bank loans of up to Rs two lakh is irresponsible. Who would foot the bills – the Centre or the states? Has any homework been done on its implications? Had the Reserve Bank of India been consulted?" Narayan asked while talking to reporters.

Who would foot the bills – the Centre or the states?: Jayaprakash Narayan

"Who has given the authority to the Congress to announce a decision that disrupts the economy. What would happen if the RBI imposes a freeze on grant of bank loans to people in the state, taking exception to the government's credit indiscipline," he asked.

Narayan said he had earlier voiced concerns over regional parties making "wild promises unmindful of their deleterious consequences". "Now even a national party like the Congress has placed its interests above those of the country. Farmers should definitely be extended all the assistance in the form of improved seeds and modern technology. They should be ensured remunerative prices for their produce," he said.

While addressing a rally at Madikonda in Andhra Pradesh yesterday, Rahul had said, "Even if the heavens fall, we will implement our promise and waive farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh in Telangana."

PTI