The Congress’ latest announcement on waiving farm loans in case of the party returning to power in Chhattisgarh has spawned new questions surrounding policy initiatives as well as the political narrative in the poll-bound State.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who on Monday made the announcement, compared the decision to loan write-offs for industrialists and said that such incentives for farmers was good for the overall economy. Although the Congress has officially welcomed the move, with spokespersons even calling it a masterstroke, some within the party have a differing opinion. There are those who feel the decision may have been nudged by some adverse feedback on the ground.
“We have run the government for five years, bought paddy [the main crop in the State] for ₹2,500 per quintal. Our claim is that we have made farmers stronger and self-sufficient in the past five years. There is no visible stress, no major suicides because of inability to pay loans. Hence the decision is puzzling and suggests that the reports from the ground may not be very assuring,” said a Congress leader, on condition of anonymity.
