‘Partial relief; step in the right direction’, Rahul reluctantly praises Yogi’s aid to farmers

In a series of tweets, Rahul Gandhi welcomed the decision of Yogi Adityanath's government to waive off crop loans in Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi, April 5: A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced to waive off crop loans of up to Rs 1 lakh of small and marginal farmers in the state, Congress vice president on Wednesday welcomed the move, albeit reluctantly.

In a series of tweets, posted on Gandhi's official Twitter handle, the Congress VP said, "A partial relief for UP farmers, but a step in the right direction. @INCIndia has always supported loan waivers for farmers in distress(1/3)."

"I'm happy BJP has finally been forced to see reason.But let's not play politics with our farmers who are suffering across the country(2/3)."

"The Central Govt must have a national response to the widespread distress & not discriminate amongst states(3/3)."

Farmer leaders in Uttar Pradesh welcomed the state government's move to waive off loans but said the cap of Rs one lakh left them feeling cheated. Farmers unions said the cap and limitation to crop loan would confine the benefit.

"We welcome the gesture and it will help many, but very few small farmers apply for crop loans, so it won't help all... Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised during elections to waive off the entire loan and not a fixed section," Dharmendra Singh from Bharatiya Kisan Union told IANS.

Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also termed the announcement as a betrayal.

"Promise was to waive the entire loan... farmers are feeling cheated as the government fixed a limit of Rs 1 lakh. The poor farmers have been betrayed," Akhilesh Yadav tweeted.

Delivering on the BJP's poll promise to small and marginal farmers, the Adityanath cabinet on Tuesday decided to waive their crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh, totalling a staggering Rs 36,359 crore, at its very first meeting.

The move will benefit over 2.15 crore farmers, besides seven lakh others who had secured loans which turned into non-performing assets.

OneIndia News