CAG report just the tip of the iceberg, says Raju Shetty

Terming the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report on corruption in loan waiver package to farmers as just the tip of the iceberg, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader and Lok Sabha MP Raju Shetty ridiculed Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar for claiming that there was no corruption in the package.

The CAG, in its report last week, had pointed out irregularities to the tune of Rs 500 crore in the loan waiver package of 2008. After the media highlighted the issue on March 6, Pawar had reacted sharply claiming that there were no irregularities in loan waivers.

Addressing a press conference in Pune, Shetty who represents Ichalkaranji in Lok Sabha pointed out that the CAG report has assessed only 90,000 account holders out of 4.29 crore beneficiaries of loan waiver. “As per the CAG report, 10 per cent farmers were given loans despite being ineligible. Similarly, 12 per cent farmers were not given loan waivers despite being eligible to it,” said Shetty.

He added that the CAG had checked loan accounts of only 22 per cent beneficiaries and has pointed out the irregularities. “In Maharashtra, the CAG may not have checked accounts from the five districts of Kolhapur, Solapur, Sangli, Satara and Pune. Had the CAG done that, there would have been a bigger scam in Kolhapur alone,” said the MP, demanding an in-depth inquiry into the loan waiver package.