Capt: Banks won’t harass farmers

Chandigarh, March 29

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said lending agencies, including banks, had been directed not to issue auction notices to farmers for failure to repay loans. Assuring that the banks would not be allowed to confiscate their land, he said a Bill would be tabled in the Budget session to prohibit ‘kurki’ (auction of farmers’ land in case of default).

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“I will ensure no farmer is harassed in case of non-payment of loan. It will not happen,” he said. On CCL (cash credit limit), he said the government would negotiate with banks and that CCL funds from the Centre were expected any time.

He reiterated that the Vigilance Bureau would probe the Rs 31,000-crore foodgrain scam. “An investigation by a third-party auditor would first be done.” 

The scam was detected by the RBI last year which found that the government had taken loans (known as CCL) from 30 banks for procuring wheat and paddy. However, the funds were either diverted or the grains not delivered to the FCI.

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On pruning the security cover of politicians and officers, the CM said this was being done as per the threat perception and Centre guidelines. The VIP culture would end, he reiterated. — TNS