The Election Commission (EC) has deferred the enforcement of extension of the moratorium on recovery of bank loans availed of by farmers until the April 23 Lok Sabha elections in Kerala.
“After the elections, the government can issue the orders,” Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Teeka Ram Meena said on Saturday. Although the State government approached the EC through the CEO for permission to extend the moratorium, the commission had returned the file demanding certain clarifications.
Govt. failure
A March 5 Cabinet meeting had decided to extend the moratorium till December 31 this year. But the government had failed to issue enabling orders on time. After the model code of conduct came into force on March 10, the government had approached the EC through the CEO. Mr. Meena had referred the matter to the commission, but it had returned the file.
On the other hand, the moratorium for helping out farmers was originally announced in October 2018, after the devastating floods of August. It is valid till October 11 this year. So any delay in implementing the subsequent March 5 decision will scarcely have an adverse impact on farmers.