‘Oppn backing stir to serve own political interests’
VARANASI : Union minister for skill development and entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey on Sunday said that only one percent people of the country liked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Pandey made the comment during a press conference in Varanasi when asked to respond to the Congress leader’s comment that the budget was for only 1% of population. “Reverse it. Budget is all inclusive… the Congress leader made the comment because only 1 % people of the country like him,” the minister stated.
On the farmers’ stir, Pandey, who is an MP from Chandauli Lok Sabha seat of east UP, said: “The Congress and some leaders of opposition parties are supporting it to serve their own political interests. These opposition leaders don’t have any answer to the farm laws. Only dialogue will address the issue.” “The government is ready to solve the farmers’ problems. But insistence is not good,” he added.
“Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has pointed out that the Punjab Contract Farming Act has a provision of fine of upto Rs 5 lakh if any farmer breaks the contract. But in the new laws there is a provision that the farmer may quit the contract whenever they wish,” Pandey said.
The minister further said Punjab entangled the farmers in the taxation net of mandis. “The government led by PM Modi is freeing mandis from the taxations. Where we are wrong,” he asked. Pandey said a provision had been made in the budget for equipping mandis with all facilities. Ambit of Kisan Samriddhi Yojana had been increased, he added.