BJP failed to fulfill promises made to farmers: SP

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April. 5 (ANI): Coming down heavily on the Yogi Adiyanath-led Uttar Pradesh Government after it waived off Rs 30,729 crore worth loans of small and marginal farmers, the Samajwadi Party on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had duped the farmers as the party's promise was to waive off the loans completely. Speaking to ANI here, Samajwadi Party leader Juhi Singh said, "This is not loan waiver as only Rs 1 lakh is given to the farmers, adding that they have also formed a committee which will consider how this loan waiver will take place. Let's see when it really comes into operation." Singh further targeted the BJP, saying that the farmers have been deceived and their loan waiver announcement is like going back on their word. "Why are they in so much hurry? if they needed more time, they should have taken more time. The people of Uttar Pradesh and farmers would have given them time. We are honest people. Let's not make fool out of us, at least the farmers," she added. On the other hand, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain congratulated the Yogi government for taking such a crucial step for the farmers. "I would like to congratulate Yogi Adityanath Government for taking such a great initiative for farmers. BJP fulfilled its farm loan waiver promise mentioned in its vision document for Uttar Pradesh," Hussain told ANI. BJP Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan also congratulated Yogi Adityanath for taken such a big step for famers, adding that no other government has fulfilled its promise in such less time." Earlier on Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh Government waived off Rs 30,729 crore worth loan amount of the small and marginal farmers of the state. The decision will be benefitting 2 crore 15 lakh farmers of the state. Along with this, the government has also decided to forego Non-Performing Assets (NPA) worth Rs. 5,630 crore of eight lakh farmers. "Uttar Pradesh has 2, 30,00,000 farmers. We have waived off Rs. 30, 729 crore loan amount of the farmers," Cabinet Minister Siddharth Nath Singh told the media here. Cabinet Minister Shrikant Sharma said that the government has decided to keep a target of 80 lakh tonnes of wheat purchase. "All the district Magistrates (DMs) have been instructed to purchase more where there is more produce," Sharma said. Also, 7,000 purchase centres would be opened in the state. Singh also intimated that the government would introduce 'farmer bond' for the welfare of the farming community.(ANI)