Cong says not another 2G; BJP for fresh loan waiver

Even as the latest audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General -- this time on the UPA’s farm loan waiver in 2008 -- provided fresh ammo to the BJP, the Congress is confident that it would not boil into another 2G or coal scam. HT reports.

Party managers are pointing out that this CAG report talks about alleged irregularities of the banks and does not blame the government as it had in the 2G or coal scam.

“Let the Public Accounts Committee discuss it. We will respond then,” Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.

The BJP, however, was quick to demand a CBI enquiry in the scheme that provided loan relief to farmers to the tune of Rs.52,000 crore.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar also demanded that the farmers be given another waiver for dues as on March 31, 2013.

“Nearly 34 lakh eligible farmers stand denied their right for debt waiver and more than 24 lakh ineligible people got benefits under the scheme,” he said.

UPA ally NCP, however, strongly defended the scheme. “Farmers have benefited from this. If there was minute corruption involved somewhere, then that should come in limelight and action would be taken against the guilty,” said MoS (agriculture) Tariq Anwar.