MP Agriculture Minister turns down farmers' demand of loan waiver

Bhopal: Amid the intensifying protests by farmers of Madhya Pradesh, state’s Agriculture Minister Gauri Shankar Bisen on Saturday bluntly said that the government will not waive off the farm loans at any cost as it is already providing interest free loans.

"There is no chance of a loan waiver because when I became the minister in 2008, I promised to provide loans at three percent interest rate. And next year we provided loans at one percent interest and thereafter loans were distributed at zero percent. When we did not impose any interests on loan, how can it be waived off? I am never in favour of complete loan waiver. Not then, not now," said Bisen.

He further claimed that the farming sector has been on a growing path under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

"With the support of farmers, our government achieved 20 percent growth rate in the agriculture sector and the same has been maintained for the last five years," Bisen added.

He also blamed the Congress party for inciting violence in the farmers’ protest for political benefits.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan begins ‘peace’ fast

"The farmers of the state are being misguided by the Congress Party. They are trying to add fuel to the fire. The party is using this agitation for their political gain," he said.

In a bid to restore peace in the state, CM Chouhan has begun an indefinite hunger strike at the Dussera Maidan.

Earlier on Thursday, the administration had deployed two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF), comprising around 100 men, in the violence-hit Mandsaur district.

It must be mentioned that the farmers in Madhya Pradesh are demanding better price for their produce and a loan waiver. The protest, however, turned violent after five farmers were killed on June 6 following police firing in Mandsaur.

The protest has prevailed across neighbouring districts of Neemuch, Indore, Khargone, Ujjain, Shahjanhanpur, Sehore, Raisen and Harda in the last few days.