Revanth says crop loan waiver a ‘watershed’ moment in Telangana history; dares Harish Rao to resign
The Hindu
Telangana Chief Minister announces ₹31,000 crore crop loan waiver, fulfilling Congress promise and benefiting over 22 lakh farmers.
Describing the waiver of crop loans with an allocation of ₹31,000 crore as a ‘watershed moment’ for farmers in the State, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has said the Indiramma Rajyam (Congress government) implemented a waiver of crop loans up to ₹2 lakh as promised, thereby relieving farmers of their debt burden on Independence Day.
The Congress government had fulfilled the promise made to farmers in the “Warangal Declaration” announced by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on May 6, 2022, he said while addressing a huge public meeting in Wyra town of Khammam district on Thursday.
The Chief Minister formally announced the completion of the implementation of a crop loan waiver amounting to around ₹17,934 crore in three instalments since July 18 this year, benefiting 22,37,848 farmers.
The instalment-wise details of the amount released towards the crop loan waiver scheme (first instalment: ₹6,098.93 crore to 11,50,193 farmers, second instalment of ₹6,190.01 crore to 6,40,823 farmers and third instalment of ₹5,644.24 crore to 4,46,832 farmers). The remaining farmers whose loans were more than ₹2 lakh would be extended the benefit in the near future, he said.
The Chief Minister, amid huge applause from the farmers at the public meeting, announced that the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP) would be completed by August 15, 2026, to provide water to around seven lakh acres in the former composite Khammam district.
Terming the wider coverage of the crop loan waiver scheme as a new record in the history of the country, the Chief Minister said: “We have demonstrated our commitment towards the welfare of farmers by implementing the crop loan waiver scheme by August 15, a promise made during the recent Lok Sabha elections.”
Referring to BRS leader and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao’s challenge to resign as MLA if the Congress government fulfilled its promise of crop loan waiver up to ₹2 lakh, Mr Revanth Reddy dared Mr. Rao to resign and seek a fresh mandate. If he was unwilling to do so, he should tender an open apology to farmers, Mr. Revanth Reddy added.
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