Farm loan waiver: BJP Farmers’ Cell to launch signature campaign from July 1

Bhubaneswar: As Maharashtra government declared farm loan waiver today, BJP Krushak Morcha of Odisha unit has decided to launch a signature campaign across 36,000 booths in the State from July 1 to 15 to put forth its demand for waiving crop loan and providing loan at zero percent interest to the farmers.

Informing about the programme at a press meet, Morcha general secretary Surath Biswal said the party activists will reach out to 50 lakh families to collect signatures and make them aware about the inability of State government that led to distress of farming community.

"Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said on Akshaya Tritiya day that waiver of farm loan is under government’s consideration. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra have already waived the loans. But, Odisha government has ignored the demands of the farming community," Biswal said.

Rather, Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout made sarcastic remarks against the peasants saying that they would not get the benefit if the loans are waived, Biswal added.

He further stated that other States are providing interest-free farm loans while Odisha has paid no heed in this regard, he alleged.