BJP government will waive all farm loans: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Mumbai: In an attempt to woo farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made two big announcements on Monday.

He announced that the BJP government was planning to provide loan waivers to farmers of all categories after returning to power in the Lok Sabha polls. In addition, the government will also provide pensions to farmers once the results are declared, he said.

Addressing a rally at Nandurbar, Mr Modi revealed that his government had been planning something big for farmers in the country after getting elected.

“After the Modi government comes to power again, we will do away with the condition of five acres of land and provide loan waiver to all categories of farmers.

The loan waiver money will be deposited into farmers’ accounts. We are also planning to start a pension scheme for farmers in the country,” the PM said.

According to the farmers’ loan waiver scheme, only farmers holding less than five acres of land are entitled to the benefit. For farmers holding over five acres, a 25 per cent concession on a one-time settlement of an outstanding amount is offered.

The PM attacked the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, alleging that their leaders deprived sugarcane farmers of the benefits of ethanol production.

"Ethanol is produced from sugarcane and the farmers would have benefited from its production as they would have got a fair price for sugarcane. Ethanol production would also have reduced the rates of petrol, created less pollution and environment protection and caused less expenditure on petrol. However, the Congress-NCP leaders deliberately kept farmers away from ethanol production with the sole aim of profiting on account of rising petrol rates," said Mr Modi.

"These leaders used to get kickbacks for importing fuel. If fuel imports are reduced due to ethanol blending, they fear a loss of their income," he added.

The BJP government was firm on promoting ethanol production from sugarcane. Production, which was earlier 40 crore litres, has now been increased to 140 crore litres under the BJP government, he said, and added: "We are also setting up plants and refineries for ethanol production, with one plant also coming up in Nandurbar."

Nandurbar is primarily known as an adivasi district. Mr Modi said the adivasis' quota will not be tampered with and their lands would be protected.

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