Alleging that Capt Amarinder Singh government has cheated farmers on debt-waiver promise, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday urged the farming community to pay their loans before April 30 else banks will start charging 12 percent interest instead of four percent.
“Farmers had stopped paying loan instalments thinking Capt Government will keep the ‘Karja kurki khatam, fasal ki puri rakam’ promise, which is not happening. Farmers will become bankrupt. Banks will not grant them loans for the kharif season if dues not cleared,” said Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla.
Accompanied by former Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, State vice-president Harjit Singh Grewal and other leaders, Sampla submitted a memorandum to Governor VP Singh Badnore, demanding an immediate agricultural loan waiver and Rs 20,000 per acre compensation for the damaged crop.
Sampla said that according to the Punjab State level Bankers Committee, farmers owe Rs 77,684 crore.
“Till December 31, 2016, only Rs 5,150 crore of this amount is a non-performing asset (NPA), which is 6.63 percent. If all farmers stop paying instalments, the situation can worsen,” Sampla said.
The delegation requested the Governor to ask Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to consider it as an emergency and announce agricultural loan waiver immediately.