Farmers gain little from loan waiver: PM Modi

HUBBALLI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Congress has made a bad habit of announcing farm loan waiver every ten years. He drew a comparison with the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN), announced in the national budget recently, with the UPA’s loan waiver scheme, to measure their impact.

Addressing a strong crowd at the BJP rally here on Sunday, Modi came down heavily on political parties which are advocating farm loan waiver. The scheme announced by the UPA in 2008 benefited just 20-30% farmers, but the PMKSN would reach 90 per cent, he said.

In the next ten years, farmers would benefit from Rs 7.5 lakh crore, but with the Congress’ scheme, their gain is only Rs 50,000 - 60,000, he said.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa lashed out at the state government for not taking measures to mitigate drought. He charged that none of the ministers, including the chief minister, was visiting the district to take stock of the drought situation and relief measures taken.

The people of the state are fed up with the coalition government as its partners are fighting, and neglecting development, he said, adding that people would teach the allies a befitting lesson in the upcoming election. He also expressed confidence that he would gift Modi 22 parliamentary seats to make him prime minister again.

BJP state in-charge Murlidhara Rao took a dig at the Mahaghatabandhan, and said the parties involved in various scams feared their party offices would be locked, if Modi comes to power again. So they are coming together under the ‘Maha Ghotala Ghatabhandan’. 

MP Pralhad Joshi said that despite the Modi government’s achievements, the Congress was questioning about ‘Achhe din’. “Achhe Din have come to the people of the country, but not for the Congress,” he said.