Patna: In an attempt to woo farmers in Bihar, the BJP om Tuesday announced that it will provide them "interest-free agriculture loans" if the party comes to power in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.
"We want to announce that farmers in the state will be provided interest-free agriculture loans if the people of Bihar vote our government to power in the Assembly elections. Zero interest will be charged from them be they short-term or long term agriculture loans," senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters.
He however, said that such loans will be given to only those farmers who are not defaulters and "repay their loans on time".
Currently the farmers in Bihar have to pay 4 per cent interest on loans taken for agricultural purposes and the BJP leader said that zero per cent interest on such loans will "ensure development of agriculture and increase of productivity in the state."
Modi added that the BJP will include the announcement in its manifesto while going for the state polls scheduled later in 2015. A few BJP ruled states including Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, have already implemented this measure.
Targeting the Nitish Kumar led JD (U) government in Bihar as "anti-farmer", the senior BJP leader said that the scheme of interest subsidy on agriculture loans was lying defunct in the state for the last two years.
"The anti-farmer face of Nitish Kumar and his government has been revealed. Be it hailstorm, unseasonal rains or any calamity, Kumar never visits those struck by them. He is not concerned about farmers at all, while everybody from ministers to officials indulge in "bandarbant" (sharing) of compensation meant for them (farmers)," he said.
Modi also accused the state government of not paying dues of Rs 840 crore on 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy sold by PACS (Primary Agriculture Credit Society) after March 30, 2015.
"Two months have lapsed and the farmers are just waiting for their money. There is a financial crisis in the state and the government has no money to pay the dues. It ordered all district magistrates to probe the sale of paddy after March 30 just to buy time. The probe report has come, but the government is still sitting silently," he said.
"Four farmers in the state have committed suicide in the recent weeks, but a compensation of Rs 4 lakh was given only to the family members of one of them. The government is completely unconcerned about the suffering of farmers," he added.
The senior BJP leader said that this huge amount of money due to the farmers is in addition to around Rs 350 crore dues related to 13.5 lakh metric tonnes paddy given by PACS to State Food Corporation before March 30, 2015.
Modi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, added that no wheat has been purchased in the state for the last two years, and the state government ordered its purchase just two days ago "fully-knowing that the farmers would have sold it at cheaper rates in the market by now for want of money".
He also alleged that the state government has not announced any bonus on wheat, though it had done so two years ago.
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