Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) leader and MP Raju Shetti today demanded that Maharashtra government increase the cap for its farm loan waiver scheme to Rs 2 lakh from the present Rs 1.5 lakh.
He also said there were several complaints against Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot, an SSS leader, and he should present his side before a committee formed by the party to look into the issue by July 4.
Shetti was speaking to reporters after a state level executive meeting of SSS.
"We reviewed the loan waiver scheme today and found there are discrepancies in the statistics given by the state government....It does not add up and hence it is creating doubts in farmers' minds," Shetti said.
The government is silent about the farmers who have already paid off their loans, he said. "These farmers, about six lakh in number, borrowed money from (other) lenders to repay (bank) loans...Government has failed to give them any relief."
As to the BJP-led government's claim that the scheme would 'clear' 7/12 extracts of 40 lakh indebted farmers (making them debt-free), Shetti said the government should make names of these farmers public. "We think the government is inflating the number," he said.
A party delegation will meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and seek clarification, he said. "If government fails to clear our doubts and address our demands by July 25, we will be free to start a fresh agitation," he said.
When asked if the party will withdraw its support to the government, Shetti said the SSS is ready to hold talks and will wait till July 25 for a communication from the government's side.
SSS wants increase in the subsidy paid to the farmers who pay loan repayment instalments regularly to Rs 50,000 from the existing Rs 25,000.
"We also demand that government increase the cap on loan waiver to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh," he said. The government has said that loans up to Rs 1.5 lakh would be waived.
On Khot, a party leader who is part of Fadnavis government and whose relations with Shetti are strained, he said there were several complaints by party members against Khot.
"Khot is answerable for carrying out anti-party activities....However, we think Khot should be given a chance to put up his side, so we have set up a four-member committee which will conduct enquiry into these complaints and hear Khot and then a decision will be taken," Shetti said.
Shetti also said he is going to lead 'Kisan Mukti Yatra' from Mandasaur in Madhya Pradesh from July 6. Some 130 organisations are going to take part in the Yatra which will pass through MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and will reach the national capital on July 18.
The demand of this Yatra will be that government give a nationwide loan waiver and implement recommendations of the Swaminathan committee, Shetti said.
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