Issue white paper on loan waiver beneficiaries: NCP

Claims that BJP leaders and State government are giving contradictory numbers

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday demanded that a white paper be issued on the number of beneficiaries of the farm loan waiver scheme announced by the State government.

In a press conference held in Mumbai, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that BJP leaders and the State government were giving contradictory numbers and information regarding the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Mr. Malik said: “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that 89 lakh farmers will benefit from the farm loan waiver worth ₹34,000 crore. Now BJP State chief Raosaheb Patil Danve is saying the waiver is worth ₹46,000 crore. BJP leaders are playing with figures. The State government should bring out a white paper.” With banks yet to submit the list of applicants for the scheme, the actual transfer of money in farmers’ accounts is likely to be delayed by over two weeks.

The NCP also demanded that the State government withdraw the drought cess of ₹9/litre of petrol and ₹2 surcharge/litre of petrol imposed to make up for losses of revenue owing to the ban on sale of liquor on highways.

The NCP said despite imposing drought cess in 2015, the government did not declare drought in the State in the past two years.

The court also clarified that the liqour ban is not applicable on licensed premises within municipal limits. He said the State should lift the additional taxes to give the common man relief from inflation. “Crude oil prices are down less than 50%,” he said.