First priority would be to waive farm loans if opposition alliance comes to power in Jharkhand: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday promised to waive farm loan up to ₹2 lakh in Jharkhand if the opposition alliance is voted to power.

Addressing a poll meeting in Mehrma, in support of JMM candidate Ketubbudin Sheikh, Gandhi said farmers would receive a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹ 2,500 for every quintal of paddy if the Cong-JMM-RJD coalition wins the majority.

"The first priority of the opposition alliance would be to waive farm loans up to ₹2 lakh. The Congress governments in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh procure paddy at ₹2,500 MSP. Farmers in Jharkhand will also get the same MSP rate, if we win the election," he stated.

Asserting that his party has always fulfilled its promises, he slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre for the "rise in unemployment" in the country.

He said that PM Modi talks big, talks about the moon, rockets. Jharkhand has water, forests land, minerals, but no drinkable water. But Modi ji won’t talk about it.

“Onion price has increased to ₹200 per kg. Why does Modi not mention it in his speeches? he asked.

“Every day, there are reports of rape of women from all corners of the country. Modi ji does not say a word. Modi ji had said ‘beti bachao’ (save daughters), but he did not say that daughters need to be saved from his own MLAs”, Rahul Gandhi thundered referring to the Chinmayanad case and shocking incidents of rape and crimes against women.

"Unemployment rate is at a 45-year high. The Centre's decision to demonetize high-value notes hit the poor hard. People are still reeling under its effect.

"The BJP government, however, continues to function for the benefit of just 10-15 industrialists," Rahul said at the rally.

Rajmahal is going to polls on December 20, during the final phase of Jharkhand elections.

You can watch Rahul Gandhi’s speech here:

With PTI inputs