BRS, BJP claim credit for Telangana CM’s announcement on farm loan waiver

BRS MLA Harish Rao claimed that the CM announced to waive farmers' loans before 15 August only with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls.

ByPTI

Published Apr 16, 2024 | 3:06 PMUpdatedApr 16, 2024 | 3:06 PM

BRS MLA Harish Rao

The Opposition BJP and BRS in Telangana have claimed that the announcement of ₹2 lakh farm loan waiver by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is a result of their agitations demanding it and sought to know when the other promises of the ruling Congress government would be fulfilled.

Taking on the Congress government, BJP Rajya Sabha member K Laxman on Tuesday, 16 April, asked why should people vote for Congress in the Lok Sabha elections when promises like investment support of ₹15,000 to farmers and financial assistance of ₹12,000 to agriculture workers have not been implemented.

Addressing reporters in Hyderabad, Laxman also took exception to Revanth Reddy’s charge that there was a clandestine understanding between BJP and BRS.

Also Read: Imponderables make polls dicey for Telangana Congress in Bhongir

‘In view of Lok Sabha polls’

BRS MLA T Harish Rao claimed that the Chief Minister announced the waiving of farmers’ loans before 15 August only with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls.

The Chief Minister should apologise to farmers for not honouring his promise to waive the loan on 9 December 2023 soon after the Congress government assumed office, said Harish Rao, a nephew of former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

Revanth Reddy made the announcement because of the BRS agitation for loan waiver, he said on X.

The BRS leader also wanted to know when the Congress government would implement its other promises, including investment support of ₹15,000 per acre, financial assistance of ₹12,000 to farm workers, ₹2,500 per month to poor women and increasing the benefit of social security pensions to ₹4,000.

Meanwhile, state BJP spokesperson Amarnath claimed that the fast held by state BJP president G Kishan Reddy on farmers’ issues on Monday led the Congress government to announce the loan waiver.

BJP considers the Chief Minister’s announcement to be its “first victory”, he said in a statement late Monday night.

The BJP would continue its battle to mount pressure on the government to devlier on all the promises of ruling Congress, he added.

Also Read: BRS complains to EC against CM Revanth Reddy, Telangana BJP

Loan waiver

Addressing a Congress election rally in the district headquarters town of Narayanpet Monday night, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced that his government would waive farm loans upto ₹2 lakh as a “single amount” (not in instalments) before 15 August.

The Chief Minister ascribed the delay in implementing crop loan waiver to the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections that is in force.

He assured that his government would offer ₹500 bonus on MSP to farmers on paddy to be cultivated next time.

Revanth Reddy also highlighted the poll promises being implemented by his government, including free travel for women in state-run RTC buses, free power supply up to 200 units to poor and LPG cylinders for poor for Rs 500.

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