CM: Can’t afford to waive more debt

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has appealed to the farmers to shun the path of agitation, saying his government could not afford to waive any more debt at the present juncture, but was committed to alleviating their woes at the earliest.

Despite the severe financial crunch faced by the state government, Punjab had given more relief to its farmers than other states, the CM pointed out, urging the protesting farmers to appreciate the government’s efforts.

Amarinder cited the example of Maharashtra that waived loans up to Rs 1.5 lakh, UP Rs 1 lakh, Rajasthan Rs 50,000, MP Rs 1 lakh and Karnataka Rs 50,000 to point to the extent to which his government had stretched itself to fulfill this important promise of the Congress to the farming community.

The CM appealed to the farmers not to be misled by the Opposition parties and some farm unions, who were spreading a false propaganda on the issue.

Amarinder sought from the farmers more time to implement farm debt waiver in toto, saying his government was working towards reviving the state’s economy so that all sections of society could be brought back on the track of development.