Rahul Gandhi addresses farmers' meet in Chhattisgarh, says promised loan waiver and delivered on it

Days after waiving off over Rs 6,100 crore farm lone of 16.60 lakh farmers in Chhattisgarh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday addressed a couple of farmers' meet titled 'Kisan Abhaar Sammelan' and 'Krishi Rin Mukti Karayakram' in Naya Raipur of the state. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior Congress leader PL Punia were among those present at the event at Rajyotsav Mela ground in Atal Nagar. A function has been organised to express gratitude to people and farmers for voting the party to power in the state. Beneficiary farmers have been also distributed loan waiver certificates during the event. Earlier on Sunday, AICC in-charge of Chhattisgarh PL Punia took stock of the arrangements in the state. 

"Chhattisgarh: Congress President Rahul Gandhi at 'Kisan Abhaar Sammelan' and 'Krishi Rin Mukti Karayakram' in Atal Nagar. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also present," the news agency ANI reported.

Chhattisgarh: Congress President Rahul Gandhi at 'Kisan Abhaar Sammelan' and 'Krishi Rin Mukti Karayakram' in Atal Nagar. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also present. pic.twitter.com/XjM3tUh2Wu

— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2019

Here are the Highlights from Rahul Gandhi's thanksgiving rally in Chhattisgarh:

- Minimum income to every poor if we win polls: Rahul.

You had to stand in a queue during demonetisation. We guaranteed 100-day work under MGNREGA. We introduced RTI. After winning 2019 elections, every poor person would be given minimum income. This is a historic decision. No govt in the world has done this: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi in Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh: After winning in 2019 we'll take a step that no party has ever taken, we will ensure minimum universal basic income for the poor. No government in the world has ever taken such a decision. pic.twitter.com/OwvqboxzcW

— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2019

- Congress introduced the Green Revolution, food security: Rahul Gandhi.

Have returned Tata land that was lying unutilised for years. Every crop grown here would go to dining tables across the world — be it America or Japan. We brought in Green Revolution and worked on food security: Rahul

- BJP diluted land acquisition bill, says Gandhi.

Our land acquisition bill guaranteed four times the price of land to farmers and if industrialists did not start work in 10 years, the land would go back to farmers. But Modi and BJP diluted the bill. If the land is taken from farmers, the panchayat would have to be taken into confidence: Rahul

RELATED

- Modi wanted to benefit his industrialist friend in Rafale deal, the Congress chief said.

What BJP could not do in 15 years, we did in 24 hours. There’s no lack of money. Modi only wants you to listen to his ‘Mann ki Baat’. Rafale was a huge contract. Lakhs of youth could have got jobs. But Modi wanted to benefit his industrialist friend: Rahul

- BJP said they do not have money for loan waiver: Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Whenever we spoke of loan waiver, BJP said they don’t have money. In Chhattisgarh, they said they have no money, In MP, Shivraj Chouhan said he doesn’t have money. In Delhi, PM Modi said he doesn’t have money for loan waiver. They don’t have money for loan waiver but they can waive loans off India’s 15 richest industrialists: Rahul

- All our leaders fought unitedly: Rahul said.

You imposed your trust on us and helped us form the govt in Chhattisgarh. The responsibility is huge and we will try our best to fulfil it. All our leaders fought unitedly and this helped us win: Rahul Gandhi

Apart from the farm loan waiver, the paddy is being procured at a rate of Rs 2,500 per quintal from farmers in the state, as promised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi during his 2018 Assembly polls campaign. Implementing another pre-poll promise, the Congress government has waived outstanding irrigation tax amounting to Rs 207 crore of 15 lakh farmers. The developments came hours after the Congress in December was voted to power in Chhattisgarh.

According to reports, a large number of farmers from across the state, including the Naxal-affected Bastar division, participated in the event.

This was the Congress chief’s first visit to Chhattisgarh after his party swept the Hindi heartland state in the recently concluded Assembly Elections 2018. On December 11, Congress ended the BJP's 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh by bagging 68 out of the 90 assembly seats. General elections are due to be held in India between April and May to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha in India's bicameral Parliament.

Gandhi's Chhattisgarh visit comes right after his much-deserved holiday in Goa. The Congress chief and his mother Sonia Gandhi were spending a gala time in the coastal state since Saturday on what party leaders have said is a "private visit" and does not include meeting party functionaries. A picture of Gandhi, donning a blue T-shirt, at a seafood restaurant in south Goa’s Betul is currently doing rounds on the social networking sites.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rahul Gandhi thanks Chhattisgarh for voting Congress back to power.
• Beneficiary farmers were distributed loan waiver certificates at the event.
• Gandhi promises minimum income to every poor after 2019 victory.