”U-turn” On Micro Loan-Waiver: Oppn Slams Assam Govt

A day after Assam cabinet minister Ashok Singhal announced the conditions for waiving microfinance loans, opposition parties in the state have attacked the BJP lead coalition government for taking a "U-Turn" on the promises made ahead of the Assembly elections.

As per reports, the Congress, All India United Democratic Front, Raijor Dal, and Assam Jatiya Parishad slammed the suggestions made by the government appointed panel.

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Singha, who chairs the panel, on Friday said the loan amount by women borrowers will be waived if availed before December 31, 2020 and women with over one lakh rupees annual income, tax payees, avail loans, owns a four-wheeler vehicle will not be excluded from the scheme.

A total amount of Rs 12,500-crore microfinance loans, comprising both principal and interest, and availed by 26 lakh customers, mostly women, from 40 lenders is due as on March 31.

"By including different conditions, the government actually does not want to help the women. They promised to waive advances during the election campaign only to garner votes, and now made a U-turn," Leader of the Opposition Debabrat Saikia said to PTI while demanding the government to waive the loans without any conditions as part of the BJP's poll assurance.

AIUDF organisational general secretary Aminul Islam was quoted as saying in a PTI report, "The BJP is indulging in cheap politics in the name of giving relief from microfinance loans. Lakhs of women were waiting for the waiver, but what the party did to them is nothing but a poll gimmick".

RD working president Bhasco De Saikia said making a "U-turn" on its promises is a "habit" of the BJP. "The BJP should stop betraying people by giving false hope and have courage to fulfil promises," Saikia said to the agency.

AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi said Sarma had promised that all microfinance loans, would be waived, which generated huge support for the BJP ahead of the polls and the government should stick to its commitment without any discrimination.

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