Loan waiver: YSRCP calls for 3-day dharna

Hyderabad, July 23 (INN): Calling the bluff of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the waiver of total agriculture and DWACRA loans, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that a three-day dharna programme will be taken up at village level across the state from July 24 to mount pressure on the TDP government to implement its poll promise and ensure that fresh loans are given forthwith.

'I appeal to all political parties, including BJP, to join the three-day dharna programme 'Narakasura Vadha' to be carried out by the farmers and women groups along with YSRCP to bring pressure on the TDP government to fulfill its poll promise of total waiver of agriculture and DWACRA loans and address to the financial implications arising out of its unfulfilled promise,' he told reporters at his Lotus Pond residence here on Wednesday.

Effigies of the TDP President would be burnt at all villages in 13 districts as Chandrababu Naidu is going back on his election promises and is trying to dilute the loan waiver by imposing strictures and downsizing the quantum which clearly shows that his pre-election words do not match with the deeds after assuming power.

The farmers and women groups are deceived by his false promises as they have to shell down money and repay old loans to get fresh ones failing which they have to pay an interest of around 12 % as defaulters against the regulation 3 % interest, he said.

Chandrababu Naidu has chaired the 184th State Level Bankers Conference (SLBC) held on June 30, which has clearly mentioned in its report that the State has total agriculture loans of Rs 87, 612 crores and DWACRA loans is Rs 14,204 crores aggregating to Rs 1.01,816 crores. The Committee has also said that farmers are reluctant to repay the loans in anticipation of loan waiver.

The Chief Minister has slashed the figure to Rs 35,000 crores which amounts to downsizing it by 37 % and we are protesting against this gross injustice.

In the letter given to the Election Commission the TDP President has categorically said that 'the financial implications of the election promise (of loan waiver) were taken care of.

'This apart he has intensified the campaign by distributing pamphlets and giving ads in the media that all agriculture and DWACRA loans would be waived and the scheme is feasible. He made this point very loud and clear in all the election meetings he has addressed.

Even on the swearing-in day there was an ad in media that all farm and DWACRA loans would be waived, nine-hour quality power would be supplied to farmers among many other promises.

When it comes to implementation, Naidu has cheated the public by going back and finding ways to dilute the scheme and redundantly appointed a committee headed by Kotaiah to study the feasibility of the scheme in bid to put the Party agenda into the Committee' report.

With farmers and women groups not repaying the laons, they are not eligible for fresh loans and cannot get back their gold and other assets pawned and they are also not eligible for crop insurance.

This apart being defaulters, for believing TDP poll promises, they have to pay higher rate of interest which amount to, as per the SLBC figures, Rs 13,000 crores, the Leader of Opposition said and made a power-point presentation of Chandrababu Naidu's speeches and ads in media.

The TDP leader has cheated the people with his promises and the farmers and women groups are crestfallen and are at the cross roads. When the TRS government has gone back on one of its poll promise, the entire opposition including TDP has protested in Telangana region and the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has reversed the decision which was announced by his cabinet colleague.

When TDP can protest in Telangana for not implementing the poll promise of TRS, how can it go back on its word in Andhra Pradesh? the YSRCP President has asked.

The State government is trying to elevate its financial crisis and the methods it has been speaking out to come out o the red are ridiculous. TDP government telling that it would mortgage the red sander trees in the forest to banks is insane as felling of trees is unlawful and amounts to smuggling. Providing sand quarries as security is also a bluff as High Court ruling exists that sand quarrying is illegal.

TDP is only trying to fool people with such impossible promises once again. 'We have been contending that the war is between credibility and deception and it still continues to expose the dubious way of Chandrababu Naidu who is deceiving and cheating people with his false promises,' he said.

We will organize farmers, women groups and appeal to all political parties to join the three-day dharna programme beginning July 24, he said.