Rahul Gandhi Reacts On Budget 2019: Promises to Waive Farm Loans in the Country

Rahul Gandhi while addressing his first public rally in Bihar after taking over as Congress president, signaled that if his party’s government came to power at the Centre, it would waive loans of farmers across the country on the contrary what the newly formed government had announced in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. 

Gandhi also repeated his promise made in Chhattisgarh, on January 28 that his party would launch the policy of “minimum income guarantee to every poor person” if voted to power. Though, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav referred to Gandhi as “PM material” in his speech at the rally. 

Rahul Gandhi also accused the BJP-led central government of handing out the country’s assets to “a few industrialists”. He said, “If the Congress party forms a government in Delhi, we will do what is done in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in the entire country. You can shout as much as you want Modi ji, deliver as many speeches as you want. You didn’t do anything in the four-and-a-half years you didn’t waive the loans of farmers.” 

Gandhi also added, “A few days ago, PM Narendra Modi had been clapping vigorously over Budget announcements. What historic job have they done?” Referring to the Budget promise of Rs 6,000 every year to farmers, he said, “A farmer’s average comes to Rs 17 per day, which is insulting.” 

On minimum assured income, Gandhi mentioned, “We are not making any assurance that cannot be fulfilled. Please hear me out with all attention. We will give minimum assured income to each poor person.” 

Gandhi spoke at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, in the first such Congress rally in Bihar in 30 years. The rally was also attended by Grand Alliance leaders, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, LJD’s Sharad Yadav, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, and newly elected Congress chief ministers, Kamal Nath from MP, Ashok Gehlot from Rajasthan and Bhupesh Baghel from Chhattisgarh. 

Gandhi also added, to how job-seekers from Bihar were “ill-treated” in states, such as Gujarat and Maharashtra, and how Bihar contributes only two per cent to the GDP. 

Though Gandhi, did not level any direct allegation at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He did accuse the JD (U) chief of “making tall promises like PM Narendra Modi”.