KCR under fire for cap on loan waiver

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao's announcement that the loan waiver scheme would be aimed at those who have availed crop loans 'during the last year' has come under flak from opposition party leaders.

Farm loan waiver of up to `1 lakh to all farmers was one of the main poll promises made by KCR in the recent elections.

Not only this promise was incorporated in the TRS manifesto, but the same was repeatedly stressed at all the public meetings during the election campaign. In fact, it was one of the main reasons for the pink party's victory in the elections.

Criticising KCR for going back on his poll promise of waiving farm loans, newly-elected Congress Legislature Party leader K Jana Reddy said KCR government should rethink on its decision of waiving loans of only last year.

Lashing out at KCR for going back on his much-touted poll promise of farm loan waiver of up to `1 lakh to all the farmers, he said the true colours of the pink party were exposed with the move of the government.

'It was imperative for KCR to stand by his promise made in the TRS manifesto and at all the public meetings,' he remarked.

'It is very unfortunate that KCR could not fulfil his key promise made to the people. KCR's decision would put farmers in financial trouble as they were hopeful that the new government would waive their loans,' he said.

Jana Reddy said many farmers have secured not more than `25,000 loan in 2013-14, while their outstanding for previous years is much higher. Therefore, the TRS government should not cheat the farmers by imposing preconditions, he said.

He demanded that the government lift the precondition immediately and waive off the entire loan amounts of the farmers.

Former minister and senior Congress leader DK Aruna too said KCR should waive all the crop loans without any preconditions. 'KCR should have thought properly before making such promises. It is not proper for him to impose conditions now,' she remarked.

She reminded that the farmers in the state were facing drought conditions for the last four months and if their loans are not waived, they would be in deep trouble. 'If KCR can't waive farmers' loans without any preconditions, his government will lose people's confidence.' she warned.

'Congress government had waived loans of farmers in the past without any conditions and KCR government too should do the same,' the former minister said.

Criticising the chief minister for restricting waiver of crop loans, CPI central committee member K Narayana demanded that the government must write off all types of crop loans taken by farmers.

Narayana said KCR's main election promise was to waive all crop loans up to `1 lakh, and now after coming to power, he is imposing conditions, which is not correct.

Senior TDP leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao, while criticising the chief minister over loan waiver, said the TRS chief has come to power with that promise and now he cannot go back.

'KCR had let down the entire farming community by not honouring his poll promise,' he remarked.