Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring farmers and youths during the last five years and said that the farmers, who were the “assets of the country”, had shown their strength by defeating the BJP in the recent Assembly elections in three Hindi heartland States, including Rajasthan.
Addressing a huge farmers’ rally at Vidyadhar Nagar stadium here, at which he kick-started the Lok Sabha election campaign of the Congress in the State, Mr. Gandhi said his party’s governments in the three States had announced farm loan waivers to fulfil the promise made by him. “What Mr. Modi could not do in four and a half years, we did in two days,” he said.
‘PM plays on back foot’
Mr. Gandhi said the Congress would waive farmers’ debts in all States if elected to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Accusing Mr. Modi of not doing enough for the farmers, he said while the Prime Minister “plays on the back foot, the youths of the country should play on front foot and hit a sixer.”
The farmers’ rally was the first public meeting of the Congress after coming to power in Rajasthan, ostensibly aimed at cultivating the agrarian community as voters for the Lok Sabha election. Mr. Gandhi said though the farm loan waiver would provide relief to farmers, a new Green Revolution was needed in the country to address the issue of agrarian distress.
The Congress president continued his attack on the NDA government and Mr. Modi over the Rafale jet deal, alleging that the “chowkidar (watchman) ran away” from the debate on the issue in the Lok Sabha. “Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke [in the House] for two and a half hours, but we exposed each and every lie of the government.”
Mr. Gandhi said the Congress’ stand on an inquiry and a Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Rafale deal had been vindicated after the reinstatement of Central Bureau of Investigation Director Alok Verma, who was removed at midnight.
‘Stole nation’s money’
Raising the issues of demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax, Mr. Gandhi said the NDA government had destroyed small and medium businesses through these decisions. “Mr. Modi stole the nation's money and gave it to [industrialist] Anil Ambani. How much money did he give to the youths, farmers and small shopkeepers?” he asked.
The rally, attended by farmers and Congress workers from Jaipur and Ajmer divisions and other districts, was utilised for announcement of second round of sops for farmers. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that his government would not increase electricity tariff for farmers during the next five years and promised to release one lakh agricultural power connections by June this year.
Farmers’ Commission
Mr. Gehlot also announced the appointment of Farmers’ Commission and said the State government would help set up food processing units on agricultural land in villages without the need for land conversion for plots measuring up to 10 hectares and provide loans for these units.
He also assured the farmers that they would get minimum support prices for mustard and gram.
Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and AICC general secretary Avinash Pande also addressed the rally.
