The UP government has now decided that loan waiver certificates will be issued to only those farmers who have outstanding dues of Rs 10,000 or above. The move comes in the wake of a TOI report about thousands of farmers who were shocked on September 11 when during the first phase of the loan waiver programme they got certificates that excused them from repaying debts as small as 9 paise. While officials called this a routine process, farmers said this was an attempt at inflating beneficiary numbers. Clearing the air on the issue, UP deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has now told TOI, “After taking cognizance of the reports that some farmers are issued certificates of petty loan amounts, CM Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to issue certificates to farmers only for dues of Rs 10,000 and above.” Maurya also spoke with Pankul Sharma on other contentious issue, like the state government’s order for videography of I-Day functions at madrassas, ban on slaughterhouses and the state’s stray cattle menace. Edited excerpts:
Soon after taking oath as the deputy CM, you had assured Muslims that they will have no reason to worry. A few days later, crackdown on the meat industry followed. Then there was the government order that I-Day functions in madrassas should be videographed. Do you still believe that Muslims have no reason to worry?
We had highlighted it in our election manifesto. We also repeated it when we formed the government six months ago. And I want to make it clear one more time that we will not allow illegal slaughterhouses to run in the state at any cost. As far as videography of madrassas is concerned, what’s wrong in checking whether they hoisted the flag and the national anthem was sung or not in madrassas?
But why only madrassas, and not other institutions?
It is well known that all national festivals are celebrated in all schools and colleges, but things are different in case of some madrassas. Besides, it was a government order and why are questions being raised on a decision taken by an elected government? If they get financial assistance from the government, they will have to follow government orders. At the same time, madrassas which are doing a good job are not touched. We have asked all madrassas to register online because we want to flush pout fraudulent people who want to siphon government funds meant for poor children.
What about the stray cattle menace? Cows and bulls are overrunning farmlands and have taken over roads causing many fatal accidents.
The government is taking all measures to deal with the situation.
In Bareilly, 57 farmers were given certificates for loan waivers of less than Rs 100. Some 4,814 farmers across UP received loan waivers ranging between Re 1 and Rs 100.
You must understand that our government has announced that loans of farmers up to Rs 1 lakh would be waived. Irrespective of what outstanding amount of a particular farmer is left to be paid. However, after taking cognizance of the reports that some farmers are issued certificates of petty loan amounts, CM Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to issue certificates to farmers only for dues of Rs 10,000 and above.
The UP CM had said that land and mining mafia would be dealt with an iron hand. But there are reports that relatives of a BJP MP recently threatened mining officials after he seized two trolleys loaded with sand.
Party MPs and MLAs will be held accountable if their relatives talk to police and administrative officials. As far as those reports are concerned, let me clarify that there is no mining done in these season. If anyone is carrying a couple of trolleys loaded with sand for personal use, it should not be dubbed sand mining. There is a provision that a person can take up to 10 trolleys for personal use.
What have been the three big achievements of your government in the past six months?
Our first six months have been tremendous. We have shown how to work and deliver on our promises. Farmers loan waiver, PM’s housing scheme, wheat and potato purchase directly from farmers and crackdown on land mafia are some of the works we have started and have been delivering successfully. Law and order has always been the top priority of all BJP governments in the state. People of the state still remember how criminals met their fate during terms of previous BJP CMs Kalyan Singh and Rajnath Singh. We have a zero tolerance approach towards criminals.
