Rahul Gandhi presses for separate ‘Kisan Budget’

However, in Kanpur, some 470 km away from Delhi, the principal opposition party Congress’ vice-president Rahul Gandhi demanded a separate Kisan (agriculture) Budget for the farming community of the country.  

“The (Central) government is wrapping up Railway Budget, I will raise the demand for the introduction of a separate Kisan Budget for country’s farming community in the Parliament,” he said.

Addressing a Khat Sabha in Kanpur, the Amethi MP said he'll push for a separate Kisan (Farmer / Agriculture) Budget so that the farmers should know what the Central government plans to do for them each year.

"Through Kisan Budget, farmers should how what all benefits they'll get each year. The farmers should know the amount of money being released by the Central government; the mode of payment and for what purpose," the Gandhi scion added.    

Rahul started his Kisan Yatra from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh on September 6. He has been raising the issue of loan waiver for farmers. In Kanpur's Khat Sabha, he reiterated, "I will raise this demand for you to have a separate Agriculture Budget in the Parliament. Apart from this issue, I will also demand loan waiver for farmers, increase in MSP and cut down in electricity bill."

This announcement by Rahul was lauded by the farmers. Meanwhile, in Delhi Railway employees cheered for scrapping up of Rail Budget.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley when asked about Gandhi's demand for separate Kisan Budget, replied, "Why did Rahul Gandhi not think about an 'Agriculture Budget' when Congress was in power?"   

Agriculture along with Forestry, Fisheries and other allied sectors account for 16% of GDP in <g data-gr-id="28">year</g> 2015 and 50% of the workforce in India as per government records. The sector is losing its sheen after country's broad -based service sector <g data-gr-id="29">driven</g> growth.