Loan waiver rejected as deceased farmer wasn’t eligible for it, says admn

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 21

The Hoshiarpur district administration today claimed that farmer Jagtar Singh, who committed suicide over not getting a loan waiver by the government, was not eligible it.

“Jagtar owned six acres and his claim for a loan waiver had been rejected in 2018,” said the administration. However, the claim of the administration has been dismissed by the farmer’s family which said they collectively owned not more than 2.5 acres.

SDM, Dasuya, Randeep Singh Heer said, “We had gone through the revenue records of Jagtar and as per these, in 2018, he owned six acres. Since farmers with more than five acres cannot get a loan waiver, his claim was rejected. He had taken a loan of Rs 1.5 lakh which he was to repay. We are investigating the records of his son Kirpal Singh as well. The details are yet to come.” Kirpal Singh had also ended his life along with his father.

CM must fulfil relief promise: SAD

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday said refusal of loan waiver to many Punjab farmers was the reason why Jagtar Singh and Kirpal Singh were forced to commit suicide. Sukhbir demanded that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh should fulfil the complete loan waiver promise that he made to farmers of the state.

Inderpal Singh, brother of Kirpal Singh, said, “My father and brother had owned only one acre each for the past many years. About 10 years ago, we had sold some land. But at present, we own only around 2.5 acres. A four-kanal land in my name has also been pledged. We have given the details to the administration and do not know why my father’s loan waiver was rejected. Our family members had been going to Singhu too. My father was upset about the government not listening to farmers on the laws, but we never knew he would take this step.”

Meanwhile, sarpanch of Mohadipur village Joginder Singh said, “It is true that the family has merely two acres. Many years ago, Jagtar Singh and his five brothers had 25 to 30 acres of land but they sold it. I don’t know the exact date of the sale of the land.”

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, senior party leaders Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Daljit Singh Cheema along with AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Congress Dasuya MLA Arun Dogra met the family members of the deceased.