One year after Mandsaur violence: Rahul Gandhi promises farm loan waiver to Madhya Pradesh within 10 days of assuming power

He was addressing a rally at Pipliya Mandi in Mandsaur district to commemorate the first anniversary of police firing on farmers during an agitation in which six farmers were killed.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi (File | EPS)
Congress President Rahul Gandhi (File | EPS)

BHOPAL: Congress national president Rahul Gandhi promised on Wednesday a comprehensive farm loan waiver in Madhya Pradesh within just 10 days of the formation of a Congress government in the poll-bound state. 

"Our state governments in Punjab and Karnataka did it in ten days. We'll similarly waive off all farm loans within ten days of assuming power in MP as well on the lines of UPA government having waived off Rs 70,000 crore farm loans in its tenure at the centre," said Gandhi. 

Assembly polls are slated in the state in November this year. Gandhi's farm loan waiver assurance came a day after Shivraj Singh Chouhan government cleared the decks for populists schemes like Rs 200 monthly flat rate electricity to poor sections and waiving off their pending electricity bills. 

Addressing a massive crowd of farmers at the Kisan Sammriddhi Sankalp Sabha in Pipliyamandi area of Mandsaur district, Gandhi also assured strict action against those whose firing killed five farmers in Pipliyamandi area a year back. "Action will be taken within ten days of Congress coming to power  in MP against those who killed the farmers in firing on June 6, 2017, in the same Pipliyamandi area."

The massive rally which was meant to offer tributes to farmers killed in alleged police firing last year also turned out to be an ideal platform for kickstarting Congress campaign for November 2018 polls in MP. 
The opposition party had been out of power in the state since 15 years.

"Once a Congress government is formed in MP, we'll put to end the practice of farmers getting payment for their produce at mandis through cheques. They will not have to travel to banks where Shivraj Singh Chouhan government will take 15 per cent commission for clearing their cheques. Our government will ensure cash payments to farmers for their produce."

He promised to establish food chain in every district, that envisages establishing food processing plants near agricultural plots. The produce will be sold to these plants who would pay farmers in cash. The purchased farm produce will then be processed and sold in urban markets," assured Gandhi. 

Taking a dig at the Narendra Modi government for failing in stopping an invasion of Chinese goods in India, "we believe in listening to people's Man ki Baat rather than making them listen to our Man ki Baat. We want to ensure that ten years from now Mandsaur's lahsun (garlic) is available in the Chinese capital," assured Gandhi. 

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