Forget loan waiver, bank to auction farmers’ property

At a time when debt-ridden farmers from across the country are demanding a loan waiver, Gujarat State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ltd (GSCARDB), popularly known as Kheti Bank, has issued newspaper notices for auction of properties of defaulting farmers. 

The move has met with a severe opposition from Khedut Samaj - Gujarat (KSG), which has urged the BJP ruled state government to immediately halt the auction process. 

In a press statement, Sagar Rabari, secretary of KSG, said that at a time when the government is unwilling to publicise the names of top corporate defaulters in the country citing reasons of loss of prestige, the bank is not at all concerned about giving advertisements in newspapers. 

He warned that when debt-ridden farmers from a number of states are seeking waiver of loans, such extreme measures will force the farmers to undertake mass agitation. Under such circumstances, the bank as well as the state government will be accountable for the consequences. 

DNA tried to reach out to bank chairman Dhiren Choudhary, but he could not be contacted. Calls and text messages to bank vice-chairman Dollarrai Kotecha and director Jetha Bharvad remained unanswered.