In response to the announcement made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday, regarding the farmers loan waiver issue, Mamata Banerjee said that central government must waive farmers’ loans throughout the country.
Arun Jaitley had on Monday said that states would have to generate funds from their own resources for loan waivers and that the Centre will not bear any cost of loan waiver. Mamata Banerjee said that an assurance was given by the ruling party and now they must fulfill their commitment without trying to pass the burden to the states. She also said that the current problem of farmers distress is a result of demonetisation.
“GOI (Government of India) must waive farmer loans throughout the country. When the farmers are agitating, GOI cannot be silent,” Banerjee tweeted.
GOI must waive farmer loans throughout the country. When the farmers are agitating, GOI cannot be silent 1/3
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 14, 2017
In order to extend little support to the states, who have announced complete loan waive off, the centre, on Wednesday decided to extend the 5 per cent interest subsidy on short-term crop loans given to farmers during the current fiscal and earmarked Rs 20,339 crore for this purpose.