KTR criticises Congress over crop loan waiver, writes to Rahul Gandhi

Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao on Sunday wrote a strongly-worded letter to Rahul Gandhi, voicing the deep disappointment of Telangana farmers over the Congress government's failure to deliver on its promised crop loan waiver.

In the letter, which was also sent to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the BRS leader claimed that the disbursement of the farm loan waiver announced by the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was still incomplete in the state.

Congress had pledged a Rs 2 lakh loan waiver in one go as part of its 2022 ‘Warangal Rythu Declaration’. However, according to the letter, the reality has fallen far short of expectations.

"Despite the Congress government initiating the loan waiver process, a significant number of eligible farmers across Telangana have been left out. The promise of waiving loans up to Rs 2 lakh has not been fully realised, with the number of beneficiaries significantly lower than anticipated," the latter stated.

"Data from the State



Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) indicates that while Rs 49,500 crore in crop loans were disbursed during the financial year 2023-24, only Rs 17,933 crore has been waived, covering just 22.37 lakh farmers. This contrasts sharply with the BRS government's previous loan waiver, which covered 36.68 lakh farmers for loans up to Rs 1 lakh, amounting to Rs 19,198 corer," it read further.

The letter also highlighted Congress government's reduction in the estimated budget for the waiver, from an initial Rs 40,000 crore to just Rs 17,933 crore, raising concerns about the government's commitment to fulfilling its promises.

"Farmers are now reportedly facing bureaucratic hurdles as they attempt to understand why they have been excluded from the waiver, with thousands of complaints being lodged," it said.

KTR concluded his letter by reiterating the BRS party's support for Telangana's farmers and pledging to continue advocating for their rights in light of what he describes as a "growing sense of betrayal" by the Congress government.