Farm loan waiver not on Gujarat govt's mind, hints Deputy CM
Ahmedabad, Dec 19: Terming farm loan waiver a "short-term solution", Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel Wednesday hinted that the BJP government in the state did not have any immediate plans to write off farmers' debts.
He made the remarks in the wake of the newly-formed Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh announcing farm loan waivers, fulfilling a promise made by the party ahead of the Assembly polls.
Asked whether farmers in Gujarat could expect a similar relief here, Patel said the government had different plans, which were more effective than farm loan waivers.
"Farm loan waiver is a short-term solution. Our aim is to offer a permanent solution to them. We want to make farmers prosperous. That is why our government spends crores of rupees on implementing various pro-farmer schemes through various departments," Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar.
He listed various steps taken by the state government, such as providing electricity to farmers for 10 hours and implementing drip irrigation.
"We are taking such steps for the overall growth of farmers. Our government's method is different (from other states). Some states may have a different approach. Our ultimate goal is to provide a permanent solution and make farmers happy," Patel added.
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Muslim woman doctor decides not to join Bihar govt job after Nitish Kumar hijab incident
Patna: AYUSH doctor Nusrat Parveen has decided not to join Bihar government service after a controversial incident involving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, despite recently receiving her appointment letter.
Parveen was among several hijab-wearing women attending a government Samvad programme in Patna when a video surfaced showing the Chief Minister allegedly pulling down her hijab in public. The incident sparked widespread criticism and political outrage across the country.
Although Parveen is scheduled to join service on December 20, she has chosen to stay away from the job due to the distress caused by the episode. Her family members are reportedly trying to convince her to reconsider the decision.
According to The Wire, Parveen’s brother, who teaches at a government law university in Kolkata, as saying that the family is of the opinion that she should not be held back for the fault of someone else, though they are well aware of her distress over the incident. Her husband works as a clinical psychologist at a college.
ALSO READ: Bihar CM removes hijab from newly appointed doctor's face at govt event, stokes controversy
The incident gained national attention after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shared a video clip of the Chief Minister’s interaction with Parveen on its official X account. As per the report, the video quickly went viral, drawing strong reactions from social media users, especially women, who described the act as inappropriate and humiliating.
The RJD criticised Nitish Kumar’s conduct and questioned his mental fitness in a strongly worded post. The Congress also entered the debate by condemning the Chief Minister’s behaviour and demanding his resignation, while linking the episode to concerns over women’s safety in Bihar and arguing that such conduct from the state’s highest constitutional authority sent a disturbing message to society at large.
Despite the growing outrage and sustained political pressure, there has been no official clarification or response from Nitish Kumar, his party, or the Bihar government more than a day after the video went viral.
