Congress to intensify stir on non-clearance of interest on crop loans

Hyderabad: The Congress party has decided to exert pressure on TRS Government to implement the promises of waiving off crop loans and the interest which got accumulated due to delay in releasing the instalments.

The decision was taken in the meeting of Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress held at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday. Addressing the meeting, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the TRS has come to power on the promise of waiving off crop loans up to Rs. one lakh. However, it cheated the farmers by splitting the amount into four instalments which attracted huge interest by the banks. Following pressure by the Congress legislators, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao gave an assurance in Assembly that the government would bear the interest burden of waived off crop loans. 

But the Chief Minister did not honour his promise. He said that the Congress MLAs have also submitted a memorandum to Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudan Chary while giving proof that the crop loan waiver was not properly implemented and thousands of farmers are still waiting for clearance of their dues. However, he said that the KCR Government remained a mute spectator and did not react. 

Uttam Kumar Reddy asked Congress MLAs to make another representation with the Speaker and maintain pressure on the State Government to force it to take off interest burden from farmers. He announced that the Congress party would continue its efforts until all farmers get justice. 

The TPCC chief said that "Armoor Declaration" announced by the Congress in 'Rythu Sadassu' held in Armoor (Nizamabad) on January 6 to help the farmers after it returns to power has been receiving overwhelming response from the entire farming community. In "Armoor Declaration", the Congress party has promised to waive off crop loans up to Rs. 2 lakh in a single take; Remunerative prices for all crops and Minimum Guaranteed prices for about 17 major crops and payment of crop insurance premium by the government. He asked the party workers to give wide publicity to "Armoor Declaration" and ensure that it reaches each and every farmer in the State. He said several suggestions, being received by the farmers and others, would be incorporated in the party's manifesto for next elections. 

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Kisan Cell leaders would organise press conferences in all districts on January 13 on the issue of erratic implementation of crop loan waiver scheme. He said representations would also be given to District Collectors requesting the government to clear the interest amount. He advised Kisan Cell chairman Kodanda Reddy to expedite the constitution of committees in 570 mandals of 31 districts of Telangana State. 

The meeting, chaired by Kodanda Reddy, was also attended by MLAs T. Jeevan Reddy and G. Chinna Reddy, TPCC Vice-President Dr. Mallu Ravi and others.