Kranti Chaturvedi, Bhopal, Chief Minister Kamal Nath gave a powerful message when he signed on the file to waive farm loan of up to Rs 2 lakh.The loan waiver was a big issue and Congress had accorded it top priority in the poll manifesto.
It is believed that this was one of the important reasons for the support Congress got in rural areas of the state. Party president Rahul Gandhi had announced to waive farm loan within 10 days of the Congress coming to power.
Immediately after taking oath, Nath saw the first file of loan waiver and immediately signed it. He asked Principal Secretary, Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Department, Dr Rajesh Rajora to give a presentation on farm loan waiver and prepare file. He gave the message to the state’s farmers that he is very serious towards the promises made by him. Not only MP, Nath has given a message for the entire country.
Almost immediately after taking the oath of office and secrecy, the veteran Congress leader and nine-time Lok Sabha MP made two announcements and both carefully aimed at the larger cross-section of voters in state. First, he announced a farm loan waiver of up to Rs two lakh; secondly, he subtly hit out at ‘outsiders’ taking away Madhya Pradesh youth’s jobs.
The farm loan waiver, although frowned upon by economists, was a part of the Congress manifesto and the party kept its poll promise. However, the attack on migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was a relatively new move aimed at gaining support of the Madhya Pradesh youth, who, unlike the migrant population, are registered voters.