Rahul Gandhi in Patna: 'PM allocates Rs 30,000 crore to Ambani, for farmers he has Rs 17 per day'

Escalating his attack on the Prime Minister over the Centre's financial assistance of Rs 6,000 per year to farmers and the controversial Rafale deal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed Narendra Modi allocated Rs 30,000 to Anil Ambani but to farmers, he has only Rs. 17 per day to offer. Gandhi was addressing the Jan Akanksha rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, his first rally in Bihar after taking over as party president.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. PTI Photo

PATNA: Escalating his attack on the Prime Minister over the Centre's financial assistance of Rs 6,000 per year to farmers and the controversial Rafale deal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed Narendra Modi allocated Rs 30,000 to Anil Ambani but to farmers, he has only Rs. 17 per day to offer. Gandhi was addressing the Jan Akanksha rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, his first rally in Bihar after taking over as party president. Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in the Interim Budget presented on Friday, said farmers will be provided Rs 6,000 per year, which amounts to Rs 16.44 daily, in three installments under a central government scheme. "The BJP leaders were clapping saying the government took a historic step. Let me tell you what historic step they have taken. They gave Rs. 17 per day to the farmers of this country. But he offered Rs. 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani, Rs. 35,000 crore to Nirav Modi, Rs. 10,000 crore to Vijay Mallya," he told the gathering. Taking on the Modi government, Gandhi further said the Centre's crop insurance scheme is aimed at taking away farmers income to fill up pockets of big businessmen. He promised that if the Congress is voted to power in the Lok Sabha polls a number of steps would be taken to deal with farm distress and unemployment. He alleged that policies of the Modi government, including crop insurance, were "aimed at taking away hard-earned money of farmers to fill up the pockets of big businessmen".

BJP said they took historic steps for farmers in the recent budget. Giving ₹17/day to a farmer is historic for them. What about Anil Ambani who was given ₹30,000Cr, Mehul Choksi- ₹35,000Cr, Nirav Modi- ₹30,000Cr?: Congress President @RahulGandhi #JanAkankshaRally pic.twitter.com/KSigbdMLyh

— Congress (@INCIndia) February 3, 2019

In contrast, he said, his party's governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh waived farm loans within a few days of coming to power. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were also present at the rally. Besides, alliance partners like RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, former Union minister Sharad Yadav and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi were present.