Devendra Fadnavis’ claim on number of farm loan waiver beneficiaries false: Congress

The Congress said the state government had credited only Rs12,262 crore in the accounts of 31 lakh farmers

Rebutting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ claim on the number of beneficiaries who have availed the farm loan waiver scheme, the Congress on Thursday said the state government had credited only Rs12,262 crore in the accounts of 31 lakh farmers.

During the winter session, Fadnavis said his government had waived loans worth Rs19, 537 crore of 41 lakh farmers.

During the winter session, Fadnavis said his government had waived loans worth Rs19, 537 crore of 41 lakh farmers.

The Congress predicted that the loan waiver scheme will prove to be a sham.

Sachin Sawant, general secretary and spokesperson of Congress, claimed that the government had disqualified 22 lakh farmers from the primary green list of 69 lakh farmers. He said that the government was making a mockery of farmers in distress.

“While announcing the loan waiver in June last year, the government called it historic, saying the Rs34,022-crore package will benefit 89 lakh farmers. After 77 lakh farmers applied for the waiver, the government reduced the list to 69 lakh by disqualifying others. Of them, only 47 lakh have been put in the green list, raising questions over the benefits to others,” he said.

Sawant said the government was verifying the details of the 22 lakh farmers as the data provided by them did not match with that of banks. “This has created an uncertainty as farmers are not sure if they will be eligible for the waiver. Of the farmers who are in the green list, 8 lakh are entitled to the one-time settlement. A few will be able to avail the benefit as they have to pay a big chunk of their outstanding loan to avail the benefit,” he said.