Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday promised all-loan waiver to poor farmers within 10 days of forming the government if voted to power in Chattisgarh. Gandhi, who was addressing a rally at Kanker, said
He also said that the Congress government would give Rs 2,500 to every farmer for harvesting his paddy crop. "We will not only waive off farmers' within 10 days of coming to power but will also give Rs 2,500 to each farmer for harvesting and sowing paddy. Congress government will also give bonus to farmers. In case they have not received any bonus from the past two years, we will compensate them accordingly," he said.
Gandhi also touched upon the issue of unemployment and promised that after coming to power, his government will work day and night to set up food processing factories in every block and district of the state to ease the life of farmers in selling their produces. "Congress government will ensure farmers get right price for their produces. We will set up food processing factories in all districts and blocks. From these factories, not only you will get the correct price for your crops but your children will also get employment in these factories," said Rahul in a bid to woo farmers, who play a key role in the state politics.
"It has been 15 years that Dr Raman Singh has been in power in the state. As on to date, more than 40 lakh people are unemployed in the region and around 65 per cent of the land has not been irrigated. Moreover, 75,000 acres of land have also been taken away from the tribal people and given to the close aides of the government," he claimed. He said his mission is to make Chhattisgarh an agricultural state like Punjab and Haryana within five years.
Talking about the issue of development, the Congress president tore into the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and claimed that the Centre failed to fulfill its promise of creating two crore jobs every year and created only fewer jobs for the youths.
"I have a vision. I want that Chhattisgarh youths must be given loans so that they can set up their own factories and create employment in the state," he added. "If one looks closely, China within a span of 24 hours gives employment to more than 50,000 people but Modi ji is only providing employment to 450 people per hour as all the money, nearly Rs 12, 50, 000 crore, has been given to his 15 friends. Modi ji only believes in 15 people but I believe in crores of people," he added.
Gandhi also promised the gathering that his government would put an end to the outsourcing of labour works in the state and will first provide employment opportunity to the poor people of Chhattisgarh. "Each family in the village who does not possess any property will be given a piece of land," he added.
While training guns at the Central government, Rahul Gandhi claimed that more than 60,000 seats of teachers are lying vacant in the state and they will make efforts to fill them fast after coming to power.
Talking about the decades old-MNREGA programme, the Congress president alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government has spent Rs 35,000 crore for the implementation of the scheme but still failed to provide any relief to the poor. "All of that money has been distributed among his friends like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Lalit Modi."
Speaking about the menace of corruption prevailing in the state, the 48-year-old leader alleged that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh was himself corrupt. He also pointed fingers at the state government for not initiating any investigation against the Dr Singh's son after his name appeared in the Panama Papers case.
"Whenever Modi ji goes somewhere, he claims that his government is against the menace of corruption. But after coming to Chhattisgarh, he does not mention that the chief minister is also a corrupt man. The state CM should explain to the people of Chhattisgarh why has no action been taken against his son, whose name appeared in the Panama papers case? In Pakistan the PM is jailed because his name appeared in Panama Papers case," he said.
Rahul also mentioned about the famous Public Distribution System scam and stated that Rs 36,000 crore from the people of Chhattisgarh was looted. "I want Raman Singh ji to answer who are this CM Madam and Dr Sahab whose names were found in the diary in connection with the scam."
Gandhi scion said that his party will not work for any particular religion, community, caste or a district but for all. He also added that as soon as the Congress comes to power in the state, they will build schools, colleges, and hospitals and will also uplift the status of poor in the society by implementing 'Paisa Kanoon,' Tribal Bill and Real Estate Law.
The first phase of elections in Chhattisgarh comprises 18 seats and these are distributed in eight Naxal-affected districts. Of these, 12 are Scheduled Tribe seats while one is a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat. The polling for remaining 72 seats will take place on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. A total of 1,291 candidates are in the fray for the two-phased state polls. In the 2013 assembly elections, the BJP had bagged 49 seats, Congress got 39, Bahujan Samajwadi Party and Independent got one seat each in the 90-member House.
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