Sampla, November 24
Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today announced a 1 per cent cut in the interest rate for farm loans from cooperative banks in the state.

Speaking at a function held here to mark the 124th birth anniversary of the late Sir Chhotu Ram, Mr Chautala said farmers would henceforth be charged interest at 10 per cent instead of 11 at present. The cut was necessary to provide relief to the farming community, especially when interest rates for bank loans were being slashed.

He also provided another major relief to farmers by waiving off stamp duty payable by farmers while executing bonds for farming loans. This would encourage farmers to avail more loans for diversification of farming, he said.

Mr Chautala said all farmers who applied for grant of power connections for tubewells by the year-end would be sanctioned the connection immediately. The government would also ensure adequate supply of power to rural areas to energise these tubewells, he added.

He also announced that every Murrah buffalo calf would be purchased by the government at Rs 3,000 each. This would not only provide monetary incentive to farmers but also help save this breed. He said all roads in Dalit bastis in rural areas would be paved soon.

The Chief Minister said Garhi Sampla village, the birthplace of Sir Chhotu Ram, would be renamed as Chhotu Ram Nagar with immediate effect as a mark of respect to the late farmers’ leader. Besides, an Industrial Training Institute would also be set up in the village, he added.

Mr Chautala also announced upgradation of Sampla sub-tehsil to the tehsil level. He laid the foundation stone of the Block Development and Panchayat Office and the tehsil office. In addition, he inaugurated a bal bhavan, a community centre building and an institute for the mentally challenged children here.

The Chief Minister denied that his father and former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Devi Lal, had ever shown black flags to Sir Chhotu Ram. He claimed that in fact Devi Lal was invited to address gatherings by the legendary leader. He said Sir Chhotu Ram was a messiah who considered Devi Lal worthy of carrying on the farmers’ struggle after him.

Shehzad Ali Khan, a son of former Nawab of Malerkotla who had come from Lahore to attend the function, said anyone coming to Lahore from Haryana for a visit would be welcomed at Sir Chhotu Ram’s haveli now owned by them. He said he had been directed by his father to make this announcement.

In a scathing attack on Sir Chhotu Ram’s grandson Birender Singh, Mr Chautala said a person who had proposed the name of Mr Bhajan Lal for the Chief Minister’s office could never claim to be the successor to the great leader.