Triggering speculation about the future chemistry between the Trinamool Congress and Congress, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed reservations about the blanket waiver of farm loans by “some States” (read Congress ruled states).
In tandem with lambasting the BJP for claiming credit about farmer insurance schemes the Trinamool Congress chief also questioned the efficacy of “some States who are blindly waiving farmers’ loans.”
Banerjee said during an administrative meeting that she was collecting information regarding the benefit the farmers were getting from loan waiver schemes. “There are some (governments) who are waiving farmers’ loans and I am gathering papers to find out whether farmers are actually benefited or not,” Banerjee said without referring to the Congress directly.
She said, “none other than the Trinamool Congress government has given better services to the farmers. Here in Bengal we have seen how the entire flock of the farming population has benefited from our pro-farmer policies.”
The Congress had waived farmers’ loans till Rs 2 lakh after coming to power in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Banerjee’s twisty reference of the Congress ruled States could give rise to speculations on whether she was keen to ally with the tri-colour party in immediate future, experts said drawing reference to how the Chief Minister congratulated her Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekhar Rao personally at his “marvelous victory” in the recently concluded Assembly elections but desisting from doing so in the case of Congress.
The Chief Minister also attacked the BJP for trying to “claim entire credit” about the farmer insurance schemes. “They (BJP) are telling the people that the Central Government is giving farmers’ insurance whereas the truth is that the Centre is only contributing 20 percent of the money. The rest is being given by the State. They are trying to mislead the people by telling lies. I am telling this in public and dare them to slap defamation charges against me,” Banerjee said.
The Bengal Government would pay the entire insurance money to the farmers and that it did not need Centre’s contribution, she said adding the BJP’s was an anti-farmer Government. “Look at the rising numbers of farmers’ suicides during this regime. About 12,000 farmers have committed suicide during this regime, she said reminding how the farmers in Nasik and elsewhere were being forced to destroy their garlic and onions on the highways.
Reacting to her attack senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said “the BJP does not want to react to statements made by a Chief Minister who is worthless and has lead Bengal to the path of anarchy.”
State Congress president Somen Mitra on the other hand wondered, “How does a question of alliance arise between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress at a time when our workers are being attacked and tortured everyday by the Trinamool Congress and its police State. The Congress is taking care of itself in Bengal,” adding he did not expect good words from the TMC chief as she was “bound to feel frustrated by the Congress’ success.”