Lok Sabha elections: Congress promises a separate farmers’ budget in its manifesto

Riding the rising wave of resentment among the farmers across the country and in a bid to bring the farmers’ politics to the centre stage, Congress party on Tuesday promised a separate farmers’ budget in its manifesto.

“In order to ensure priority to the issues affecting the agriculture sector, we will present a separate Kisan Budget,” announced the Congress in its manifesto.

Addressing the media, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said loan default by farmers would be reduced to a civil offence, if his party is voted to power. Presently, loan defaults are treated as a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Explaining what is called a “game changer” poll promise, Rahul Gandhi said we will start a separate farmers’ budget so that farmers could know how much of the budget has been allocated for them.

Stressing that the social welfare schemes such as NYAY aims to boost the economy, Rahul Gandhi in his speech said that the country is going through an “economic emergency.” To break the “economic emergency,” shock therapy is needed, he said.

“That will happen when we give directly to the poor and increase their purchase power,” said Rahul.

The NYAY scheme, which assures ₹ 72,000 per year for India’s poorest, is also one of the five main themes of the manifesto. “And this will help remonetise what Mr Modi had demonetised,” said Rahul.

In reply to a question on GST, Rahul said his party would simplify the “Gabbar Singh Tax” into “Goods and Services Tax.”

“MSMEs were badly hit by demonetisation and a flawed GST. Congress promises to devise a rehabilitation plan for MSMEs that were severely affected and help them revive and grow,” reads the manifesto.

You can click here to read the entire manifesto.