Where is loan waiver for UP farmers, Congress asks BJP

The Congress on Monday questioned the BJP for not fulfilling its poll promise in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured the farmers of Uttar Pradesh that it would waive off their loans during the first cabinet meeting after coming to power in the state.

"Prime Minister had said that once they form the government in Uttar Pradesh they would waive off loans of farmers of the state in the very first cabinet meeting of the new state government," senior Congress leader P. L. Punia said during a press conference at Parliament House here.

"The first meeting of the cabinet has been conducted but where is the loan waiver?" Punia asked.

Expressing concern over the farmers' plight, he said they were committing suicide all across the country and that the government must take note of their condition and provide them necessary relief immediately.

Punia said the farm sector was not growing the way it was being presented by the government and the farmers were passing through difficult times.

"Farmers are committing suicide across the country. Even north-eastern areas are not unaffected," he said.

"Why would anybody take such an extreme step," he said, adding that the Congress had been urging the government to do something about it.

He said the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of their produce should also be enhanced.

"It's an important issue. The loans should be waived off," Punia added.

--IANS

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