AP Loan Waiver Dharna, Grand Success: YSR Congress

Claiming that the first day of the dharna to mount pressure on the TDP government to implement full waiver of agricultural and DWACRA loans in Andhra Pradesh a grand success, the YSR Congress Party said that CM Chandrababu Naidu should re-look at the figures he had announced which were less than half of the actual dues.

"Over 80% of the villages across the 13 districts of the State have observed the dharna and symbolically burnt effigies of the Chief Minister for going back on his poll promises, and the agitation will continue for the next two days in an intensified manner," Party Deputy Floor Leader in the Assembly Jyothula Nehru told reporters on Thursday.

The response to the "Narakasura Vadha" was so good since farmers and women groups felt cheated by the TDP government, he said.

The state government was trying to celebrate the event of keeping up its promise of waiving loans when the figures were in truth manipulated, he alleged. While there were 83 lakh eligible farmers, the TDP was claiming that 43 lakh farmers would benefit from the scheme, showing that it has diluted the figure by half.

The same was the case with the women's groups as the amount to be waived off was said to be Rs 7,600 crores, while the actual amount of the loans was Rs 14,000 crores.

Nehru also took objection to some TDP ministers using abusive language against YSR Congress Party President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

"The two ministers in question should remember their humble beginnings and the backdoor methods they had employed, while our leader has bravely faced the cases which are still in court. The two leaders jumping to conclusions makes no sense, especially when they have a history of deceit," he said. (INN)