JMM demands loan waiver for farmers

Concerned over the incidents of alleged suicides by debt-ridden farmers in the State, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has demanded farm loan waiver and providing at least 3 times procurement price of the investment done by them. Talking to the media persons after attending Central Committee Meeting at Vidhan Sabha Assembly hall in Ranchi, JMM Working President and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, alleged that the BJP lead Government has been trying to politicize the age old tradition of ‘Patthalgadi’ in the tribal dominated districts in the State.   

“It has been an age old tradition of tribal population in the State which is being politicized by the State Government under planned conspiracy and is being taken towards wrong direction,” said Soren. People from all walks of life are opposed to this government, he added.

Referring to at least 7 incidents of suicide by debt ridden farmers in the State, Soren also demanded loan waiver for them.

“We demand State Government to waive the loans taken by the farmers and also provide them 3 times procurement price of their investments done in their farms,” said the former Chief Minister. A decision has also been taken to oppose government’s move of politicizing the Panchayati Raj system by placing its own representative over it in the name of Vikas Samiti, he added.

Soren further said that the decision has been taken to authorize the president and working president to decide over candidate and other things related to upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections.

“Being second largest political party in the Assembly, the Opposition has been looking at it with hope for which talks with the MLAs will be done so that a common candidate could be  fielded for Rajya Sabha,” said Soren. He however alleged that the BJP uses all government machinery to collect votes in its favour.  

“We have also decided to go it alone in the local body elections opposing many fold increase in holding tax and electricity tariff in the State,” said Soren. Referring to the holding party based local body elections in the State as a planned conspiracy, the former Chief Minister said that several fake voters have been enrolled by the State Government to make use of them in the upcoming elections. Soren said that it was also decided to organize 11th General Conference in April last while the date and place will be decided later by core committee. Decisions like launching all out protest against the proposed Land Acquisition Bill and closing of over 8000 primary schools was also taken during the Central Committee Meeting.