Guj OBC leader seeks loan waiver

Ahmedabad/Kolkata, June 14: OBC leader Alpesh Thakor on Wednesday threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if the Gujarat government did not announce a complete loan waiver for farmers in the state by the next month.

The Thakor community leader claimed that out of a total of 63 lakh farmers in Gujarat, around 40 lakh were under debt.

His demand comes close on the heels of protests in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh by farmers who were pressing for loan waiver, among other things. Farmers in Maharashtra called off their agitation on Sunday after the state government announced a loan waiver.

“The situation of farmers in Gujarat is no different from any other part of the country. Out of the total 63 lakh farmers, 40 lakh are under debt. If the Maharashtra government can waive farmers’ loans, then why can't the Gujarat government do it?” Thakor, the president of OBC-SC-ST Ekta Manch as well as of Kshatriya Thakor Sena, asked.

“I demand that the state government should announce a complete farm loan waiver. We are giving them one week's ultimatum. If our demand is not met by June 20, we will launch our stir the next day. I urge all the farmers not to pay the loan instalments till the government accepts our demand,” said Thakor.

Demand for loan waiver also reached the east coast. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said the Centre must announce a farm loan waiver across the country and claimed that the farmers were in distress. — PTI

THE Thakor community leader claimed that out of a total of 63 lakh farmers in Gujarat, around 40 lakh were under debt.