RAHUL CLAIMS MODI WANTS TO WAIVE DEBTS WORTH RS12TR FOR INDUSTRIALISTS
Congress president Rahul Gandhi yesterday hit out at the Modi government, saying that while it waived loans worth Rs3.5 trillion (Dh180 billion) for select industrialists such as Anil Ambani and Vijay Mallya, it promised just Rs3.50 per day to farmers.
Gandhi was speaking at a convention of tribal peoples in Dhuragaon village, in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district.
“Billions of rupees have been given to the people like Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi, but farmers will get just Rs3.50 per day,” he said, referring to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, under which farmers cultivating up to two hectares (five acres) will get direct cash support of Rs6,000 annually.
“When the announcement of Rs6,000 for farmers was made in the Union Budget, BJP MPs were thumping their desks in Lok Sabha. Is this a joke?” he asked. He promised that if the Congress was voted to power after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, a minimum income guarantee would be provided to the poor and the money would be deposited directly into their bank accounts.
“The poll promises [made by Modi] regarding transfer of Rs1.5 million into everyone’s bank account and providing two crore [20 million] jobs have not been implemented,” he said.
“The decision of demonetisation made you stand in queues [outside banks]. Have you seen Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya in queues? If it was a fight against black money then why did all the honest people have to stand in queues?” Gandhi asked.
People’s money was snatched and loans to the tune of trillions of rupees of businessmen were waived, he alleged.
Gandhi also alleged that Modi was going to waive remaining debts worth Rs12 trillion of select industrialists.
But on its return to the capital the next day a collision with a cow disrupted electricity supply to four carriages and damaged the brake system, according to Indian Railways.
“The train later experienced technical issues and was stranded on the way to Delhi,” Indian Railways spokeswoman Smita Vats Sharma said.
The train reached the capital “safely” ahead of its first commercial journey today, she added.
Cattle obstructions on roads and rail tracks are common in India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh state where yesterday’s collision happened.
The locally-made express train has a rated top speed of 180 km/h, 20 per cent quicker than the next fastest train in service.
The decision of demonetisation made you stand in queues [outside banks]. Have you seen Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya in queues? If it was a fight against black money then why did all the honest people have to stand in queues?