Finance Minister's Effigy Burnt

Patna: Oct. 13, 2008

The members of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) farmers' cell in Patna on Monday burnt the effigy of Central Finance Minister P. Chidambaram at the Dak Bungalow Crossing to protest against what they described as 'unbridled highhandedness and anti-farmers policies' of the nationalized banks.

Cell state president Satyendra Narayan Kushwaha said that despite the Reserve Bank of India's directive to pay Rs. 10,000 to each farmer affected by flood in ten districts in Bihar; the banks in Bihar were reluctant to release the money.

The protestors also accused the banks of failing to give away 15 lakh Kisan Credit Card to the state farmers in the 2008-09 fiscal year.

"In the first six months, the banks have given out only 1.2 lakh Kisan Credit Cards. They have also failed to open bank accounts for farmers with zero balance. This is forcing the farmers to borrow money from ruthless loan sharks that only worsens their conditions," Kushwaha said.

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