You are insulting farmers with Rs 17 ‘hike’: Rahul Gandhi on Modi govt’s Interim Budget bonanza

While the Narendra Modi government hailed its Interim Budget for its steps taken to reduce farm stress, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi attacked the ruling government and said that the Centre had insulted the farmers with its Budget announcements. With hashtag of ‘Aakhri Jumla Budget’, Gandhi said that, “Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for.” How Gandhi arrived at Rs 17 number? It’s simple. Union Minister Piyush Goyal had announced Rs 6,000 a fixed annual income for farmers, which come to Rs 500 a month. On daily basis, this would mean Rs 17 a day for the marginal farmers.

Attacking the government, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said that, “My one-line comment on the budget is that it is not a vote on account but an account for votes.” He also said that, “the Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full-fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech.”

Meanwhile, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge termed the Union Budget as BJP's "election manifesto" and accused the ruling dispensation of bribing voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this budget are mere poll sops and "jumlas", which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year.

General elections are slated to be held in April-May.  

Dear NoMo,

5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers.

Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. #AakhriJumlaBudget

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2019