Sitaram Yechury, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) General-Secretary, condemned the launch of the PM-KISAN Yojana, saying it seemed that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was more prone to distributing money amongst “rich cronies” instead of farmers.
So Loan waivers of ₹ 3.5 lakh crore to rich cronies after looting public money is okay, and loan waivers for poor suffering farmers is wrong? Waah, Modiji, Waah! https://t.co/kaVmjA5Uy6
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) February 24, 2019
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) makes provision for the distribution of an installment of Rs 2,000 each to farmers, three times a year. It would be an electronic transaction, thus reducing the role of intermediaries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the scheme on Sunday, 24 February 2019, in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The provisions have come under severe criticisms for not being followed up with a loan waiver for farmers. Yechury added that Modi threw “a pittance to few landowners as a sop just before elections, with no concern for out annadatas as we have seen since 2014.”
Modi throws a pittance to few land owners as a sop just before elections, with no concern for our annadatas as we have seen since 2014. Farmers have never suffered after independece, as in the last few years and the only thing Modi cares for are his PR shoots and rich friends.
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) February 24, 2019
Alongside Yechury, social media was flooded with rage over the denial of a 100 per cent loan waiver for the farmers. Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party President, mentioned the suicide of a farmer in Jhansi on the very day of the launch of PM-KISAN, tweeted, “… It’s time for a 100 per cent loan waiver to break farmers out of the prison of debt they are stuck in… It’s time for a Golden Revolution. ”
Today a farmer committed suicide in Jhansi — it’s time for a 100% loan waiver to break farmers out of the prison of debt they are stuck in and transform their lives. It's time for a #GoldenRevolution
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 24, 2019
The Central government announced the PM-KISAN scheme in this year’s interim budget. Per the scheme, INR 6,000 would be given to small and marginal farmers owning less than two hectares of land. The amount would be divided into three instalments over the period of a year.
Also read: Rs 500 a Month to Poor Farmers Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is an Insult: Mayawati