Waive interest on farmers' loan to prevent suicides: Rajnath Singh to UP govt

Kanpur: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to waive interest on farmers' loan to prevent them from committing suicide.

"Both the Prime Minister and I are extremely aggrieved over the loss caused to farmers due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm," Singh said, while addressing a farmers' rally here.

"In Madhya Pradesh and Haryana the BJP government is providing proper compensation to the farmers and also distributing rice and salt at Re 1 per kilo," he said.

"I would urge the Uttar Pradesh government to provide proper relief to rain and hailstorm affected farmers. Like the BJP ruled states the SP government should waive interest on farmers' loan and prevent them form committing suicide," the Union Minister said.

The Centre has decided to give pension of Rs 5,000 for farmers aged 60 or above, he said.

Singh said,"We have already decided?that those farmers whose 33 per cent crops were damaged, will be given full compensation."

Rajnath Singh said that he would talk to UP Chief Minister over the issue and assured all help to the state government to provide compensation to the affected farmers.

"It has come to my knowledge that state officials are sitting in their office and assessing crop loss whereas they should be visiting the fields," he said, adding that all farmers must get proper compensation.

The Union minister said that the Central Government is bringing in Krishi Amdani Beema Yojana under which farmers will get compensation for 25 per cent of their produce destroyed due to unexpected weather or other reasons.

Referring to the Land Bill, the Union minister said that the opposition are spreading lies about it.

"I would like to assure the farmers that their interests would be protected and no one can take their land without their consent. Also proper compensation and job would be provided for the land acquired," he said.

Asserting that he belonged to a farmer's family, Singh said that the priority of the Central government is to safeguard the interest of farmers.

Asserting that unlike the previous UPA regime, the Modi-government is acting tough to safeguard the security of the nation, the Union Home Minister said that BSF has been instructed to retaliate if Pakistan fires upon innocent Indians.