Rahul Gandhi promises minimum income guarantee to poor if Congress forms government at Centre

“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,” he said at a rally here.

Picture posted by @INCIndia on Twitter

Atal Nagar (Chhattisgarh): Congress President Rahul Gandhi has promised to implement a universal basic income scheme in the country if it comes back to power after the April-May general elections. Gandhi said a decision like this has never been taken by any government in the world. “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,” he said at the 'Kisaan Abhaar Sammelan' held here. Not just the Congress-ruled states but the scheme will have a pan-India presence, he said while giving out minor details of the ambitious project the party has in mind.

#WATCH 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/V064QfsWrM

— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2019

Further, he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP of trying to create two Indias -- "one of the Rafale scam, Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi and the other of the poor farmers". “No one in the country will be hungry or poor. We will launch it in all states. We do not want two Indias,” he said. Today's event was organised by the Congress to express gratitude to Chhattisgarh's people, particularly farmers, for voting the party to power in the state after a gap of 15 years. He also distributed loan waiver certificates to some of the beneficiary farmers during the function in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior Congress leader P L Punia. The Congress chief's announcement was described by former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram as "historic" that will mark a turning point in the lives of the poor.

देश के संसाधनों पर पहला अधिकार भारत के गरीबों का है। राहुल गांधी के वादे को लागू करने के लिये कांग्रेस पार्टी संसाधन जुटायेगी

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2019