Agri loan of BJP leader's mom waived, says minister

Bhopal: Agriculture minister Sachin Yadav on Thursday tore into BJP for its “false campaign” on farm loan waiver, pointing out that the agriculture loan of the mother of BJP’s candidate in the Jhabua bypoll has been written off.

Jhabua goes to the polls on October 21, and farm loan waiver is one of the key election issues in the tribal dominated district.

BJP has been attacking the Congress government relentlessly, accusing it of reneging on its promise, though Congress insists the waiver is on and will be given to all beneficiaries. Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has repeatedly mentioned it in his campaign rallies, calling it “breach of promise” by the Nath government.

On Thursday — four days ahead of voting — minister Sachin Yadav hit back with evidence. Criticising BJP for its “misleading” campaign, Yadav said agricultural loan of Rs 1,03,979 of BJP candidate Bhanu Bhuria’s mother has been waived. “BJP is now ‘Bhartiya Jhooti Party’ for its false propaganda,” the minister said while campaigning for Congress in Jhabua on Thursday. The minister also tweeted a list of agri-loan waiver beneficiaries, highlighting the BJP candidate’s mother.

“BJP leaders have been spreading fake news against Congress by saying that the government has not waived loans of farmers,” he said, challenging BJP to “name one farmer whose agri loan was waived in its 15-year rule”

BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal, however, maintained that the Congress government has not waived loans of farmers. “We have budget documents to show that Congress is lying,” he alleged.