Twitter
Advertisement

Congress’s loan waivers fleeced farmers: PM Narendra Modi

Says that ‘remote control’ govt only aided middlemen

Latest News
article-main
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a gathering in Leh after launching the University of Ladakh, the first-ever varsity in Ladakh
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the previous government of cheating farmers with loan waivers, and benefitting 30-35 lakh undeserving people in order to allow middlemen to loot the country's exchequer.

"In 2008-09, Congress announced farm loan waivers to win elections. Farmers faced about Rs 6 lakh crore loans at the time when the 'remote control' government was being run. After coming to power, they waived Rs 52,000 crore only. They cheated farmers. When CAG probed it, it found 30 to 35 lakh people who weren't eligible for loan waivers. Who were these 30-35 lakh people? Where did the money go? I need not tell you because people know the blemished record of these famed people," the prime minister said while addressing a public rally at Vijaypur in Jammu.

When elections draw near, he said, the Congress immediately catches 'loan waiver fever' to dupe gullible farmers. "Recently, Congress formed government in Madhya Pradesh. Loans are being waived off for farmers who were never under a burden of debt. You will be surprised to know that people whose loans were actually waived off got cheques of Rs 13. In Rajasthan, the government has given up. They were never serious in their intention to waive off loans. It was only to fill pockets of the middlemen," he said.

PM Modi said 12 crore families of farmers will benefit from the scheme announced in the Union Budget this year. "Small farmers' families who have five acres of land will get Rs 6,000 directly in their bank accounts. It will be transferred in three installments of Rs 2,000 each. The first installment will be transferred very soon. In all, Rs 75,000 crore will be spent for farmers' benefit. There will be no middlemen. Crores of small farmers, who never received government help, will benefit," he said.

The prime minister also justified the Citizenship Amendment Bill and said his government stands by people who were victimised and persecuted on the basis of faith in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "Take the Kartarpur corridor," he said. "Had attention been paid, Guru Nanak Dev Ji's land would have been in India today. Similarly, there are sons of Mother India in Pakistan and Afghanistan who have been victimised. Nobody paid attention to their trauma and pain. We have brought in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill; it's part of our resolve to stand by people who were once a part of India but were separated because of circumstances in 1947. If they are being victimised on the basis of faith, the nation should stand with them. India will always stand by them and their rights will be protected."

He also recalled the Kashmiri Pandits' migration issue, saying the country can never forget that they had to leave their homes because of violence and terrorism. "India will never forget the atrocities the Kashmiri Pandits faced," he said.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement