Bhopal: Ministers’ failure to reap benefit in poll annoys Kamal Nath

Bhopal: Chief Minister Kamal Nath is highly annoyed over not getting any benefit of waiving farm loan of around 20 lakh farmers of the state in the recently held Lok Sabha polls. Nath, during a review meeting of farm loan waiver on Tuesday, told his ministers that several people during elections had informed him of not getting loan waiver.

Nath wanted to know from his minister that when the loan was waived off then why they did not get the votes. Finance minister Tarun Bhanot and agriculture minister Sachin Yadav told Nath that farm loan waiver failed to yield desired results as all issues proved small before nationalism during the Lok Sabha polls.

The farm loan waiver was implemented but it could not beat other national issues, contended the ministers. They also argued that BJP created confusion among farmers on farm loan waiver and they did not vote in Congress’ favour. It was decided in the meeting that farm loan waiver should be implemented district- wise to make it more effective.

Bhanot suggested that loans of all debtors in small amounts should be waived so that good impression could be created. It came up during the meeting that farm loan waiver at one-go did not benefit Congress during elections. Nath said the farmers whose loan has been waived should be informed on phone.

The ministers suggested that phone calls have been made earlier and calling them again may create further confusion. Nath instructed the officers to continue the process of farm loan waiver. A provision for money for farm loan waiver would also be made in the budget.

Nath also sought information from the officials about the status of waiver process. The officials of finance department told Nath about the provision. Nath said every farmer, who took loan, should be assured that the government would waive its farm loan.