Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Narendra Modi government for ignoring the plight of farmers at Piplya Mandi town in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh.
After meeting the families of the farmers killed in police firing during last year’s Mandsaur protests, Gandhi addressed a ‘Kisan Samriddhi Sankalp Rally’ that marked the beginning of the Congress’ assembly election campaign in the state.
“We want farmers to get the respect they deserve. PM Modi waived off loan worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore of just 15 businessmen, but when I requested him to waive off farm loans, he had nothing to say,” Gandhi told the farmers.
“I will not tell you my ‘mann ki baat’ but I will listen to yours,” he added. Many farmers’ organisations in some states across the country have launched a 10-day strike on Friday as they are burdened due to lower food prices, weaker farm wages and modest crop procurement rates.
Underlining that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has “failed the farmers”, Gandhi said, “All money of the industrialists can be waived off easily by the government, but they cannot waive off loans of the farmers.”
The Congress party chief assured the farmers that his party will waive off their loans within 10 days if voted to power in the state. He also told the families of those killed in police firing that they will “get justice in 10 days” and “we will take action against those responsible for the firing”.
Gandhi also explained how his party plans to improve the earnings of farmers in MP. “Today, you sell your produce in the ‘mandi, the government gets 15 per cent of your profit. We will install food processing units in every district and you can directly sell your produce. You will get the reward of your hard work.”
Calling out Modi for not taking a stand against China, Gandhi said, “Modiji uses a telephone which is made in China. He visits China, but he doesn’t speak a single word on Doklam.”
“It is my dream that five years from now when we come here, we look at our phones and it says ‘Made it Mandsaur’. Shivraj Singh and Modi can’t do this, but Kamalnath and Sindia can,” Gandhi added.
In his speech, he also highlighted how Modi betrayed the youth. “Is there anybody here who can say that Narendra Modi has given me employment? Gandhi asked. “PM Modi has betrayed the poor, he lied to them. But the biggest fraud was with the youth of the country. He had promised employment for 2 crore youth.”
Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate has asked the families of the deceased farmers to not meet Gandhi.
Read more: Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s Rally In Mandsaur, Government Officials Ask Victims’ Parents Not To Meet Him