Won't let PM Narendra Modi sleep till all farm loans are waived: Rahul Gandhi

The opposition Congress and ruling BJP on Tuesday engaged in a slugfest on farm loan waiver. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said he will not let PM Modi sleep until all farm loans are waived.

Returning the jab, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Congress has ensured people didn't sleep during its 60 years of rule. Terming the Congress president's remark as a "new low" in public discourse, he said: "Nothing better can be expected from the president of a party that ensured the people of the country don't sleep due to their corruption and malpractices."

Earlier, Gandhi said the government has turned a blind eye to the loans given to 15 top industrialists, but made no effort to alleviate the woes of the farmers. "We promised to waive loans in 10 days. In two states, we did it within six hours and we would do it in the third state soon... We will not let him sleep till farm loans are waived," he said adding, "If Modi govt does not waive farm loans, we guarantee to do it if voted to power."

Prasad attacked Gandhi for running away from parliament, by forcing adjournments and not allowing a debate. He said the Congress was afraid of having a debate on the issue in Parliament and that is why it was preventing the House from functioning. "We are willing to have a debate on Rafale deal. Don't run away. It is afraid that if a debate happens, so many skeletons will tumble out of the Congress' almirah," Prasad said.

Prasad also responded to Gandhi's wealthy businessmen remark and said both Mallya and Nirav Modi had benefitted during the Congress regime. "Rahul Gandhi, you better not forget that Mallya's loans were restructured when your government was in power. Nirav Modi was given benefits just a week before the Modi government took charge," Prasad said.

Loan Slugfest

• Rahul Gandhi’s attack was that Modi govt is considerate towards industrialists, not farmers
• BJP claims that “both Mallya and Nirav benefitted” during Cong rule, and Nirav was given benefits just one week before Modi took over