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Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi, Samajwadi Party; demands farmers' debt to be waived

News Agencies | Updated on: 7 February 2017, 1:21 IST

Rahul Gandhi¸on 6 October, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the IDS scheme alleging that he had failed to act against black money despite his talk of "56-inch chest" to fight corruption. However, PM Modi instead brought a scheme for turning into white the ill-gotten wealth of "thieves", he said.

The Congress vice president, who was speaking during his road show on the last day of his month-long Kisan Yatra from Deoria in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, pressed upon the Modi government to announce a debt waiver for farmers.

Gandhi also took a swipe at the ruling Samjwadi Party, saying he will give UP a government of farmers, labourers and people of every religion and caste and not that of a selected few.

Lashing out at the Modi government, he said only the Prime Minister and his friends were "happy" as money has come into the pockets of 15 top businessmen and not the farmers and small shopkeepers.

"Modiji had said he has a 56-inch chest and will fight corruption, but he instead brought out a 'Fair and Lovely scheme' for turning the thieves' black money into white.

The Modi government had announced Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) -- a one-time opportunity for those with hidden income to come clean by making the disclosure and paying 45% tax and penalty. After the end of the four-month window on 30 September, the government had pegged the disclosed amount at Rs 65,250 crore.

Training his guns on the family-led Samajwadi Party government in the state, Gandhi said, "Uttar Pradesh will not have a government of just 15 persons. The government here will be of farmers, labourers, small shopkeepers, and of people from every religion and caste."

The Congress vice President said he will force the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for a loan waiver for distressed farmers.

"We want higher MSP for farmers, we want to waive the farm loans so join me and come to Delhi along with me. We all will pressurise Modiji to waive farm loans.

"In the last two and half years, Narendra Modi waived Rs 1.10 lakh crore loan to 15 big corporates. Then why can't he waive the farmers' loan," he said.

Gandhi's yatra passed through various constituencies in this district and entered Modinagar where he was accorded a rousing welcome by party workers before he headed for Delhi.

He is accompanied by party's chief ministerial face Sheila Dikshit, UPPCC president Raj Babbar and actor-turned politician Naghma.

The Kisan Yatra will end today at Parliament Street in the national capital.

--PTI

First published: 6 October 2016, 4:56 IST