BRS MLA Harish Rao slams Congress govt in Telangana for "not waiving off" farmers' loans

Yadadri Bhuvanagiri (Telangana) [India], August 22 : BRS MLA T Harish Rao on Thursday slammed the Congress government in Telangana for "not waiving off" the farmers' loans as had been promised by the party before the Assembly election.
"Before the assembly elections, the Revanth Reddy government promised to waive off loans of Rs 2 lakhs to farmers. They promised to waive off loans on 9th December. But they did not waive off loans on 9th December," Rao told ANI.
"Later, in the parliamentary elections, they went to every district and promised to waive off loans by the 15th of August. They looted the votes of farmers in the parliamentary elections as well. Today, 15th August is over. The loan waiver has not happened yet. Even half of the farmers have not got their loans waived," he added.
The Congress had promised a complete loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh for farmers as part of its 'Warangal Rythu Declaration', ahead of the Assembly elections. The party had said that if they came to power, it would waive off farmers' loans of Rs 2 lakh per acre.
However, after coming to power, the government split the waiver scheme into three instalments, which irked the farmers in dismay.
Meanwhile, BRS held protests in all Mandal and Constituency centres on Thursday, demanding an unconditional loan waiver for all farmers in the state.
In a press release, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao said that while the Chief Minister claims that loans up to two lakh rupees have been waived for everyone the ministers are giving contradictory statements, saying the loan waiver process is not yet complete.
"A large number of farmers across the state are agitating because they have not benefited from the Congress party's loan waiver scheme", added KTR.
Mentioning the promises of the Congress party before the elections, KTR highlighted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's statement that Rs 40,000 crores would be required for the loan waiver.
However, it was noted that only Rs 18,000 crores have been spent by the state government till now. He also reminded that before the elections, the Congress party clearly promised to implement a loan waiver of up to two lakh rupees for all farmers.
KTR criticised the state Congress leadership, saying that instead of supporting the distressed farmers who are protesting the lack of a proper loan waiver, ministers and Congress leaders are making statements that only add to the confusion.
He claimed that there is ground-level information that not even 40 per cent of farmers have benefited from the loan waiver.
"Due to the Congress government's stance, lakhs of farmers are being forced to visit government offices repeatedly", mentioned the BRS leader.
Additionally, it was demanded that the state government immediately announce a loan waiver of up to two lakh rupees for every farmer.