Modi weakening farmers to get their lands: Rahul

Addressing a rally in Haveri, he said Modi had no time for “crying” farmers and labourers and wanted to help his big business friends who are eyeing farmers’ land. “The truth is Narendra Modi has three or four big industrialist/ business friends, they want your land. They are aware that the land that today costs Rs 1-2 lakh, after 8-10 years it will cost crores of rupees, and they in one or the other way want to acquire your land.” 

“We may be 40 to 45 (MPs) in Parliament, but farmers and labourers are with us. These people are still not aware of the strength of our farmers,” he said. Gandhi alleged that the farmers were being weakened in several ways.

“If they can’t do it their way, they want to acquire your land by weakening farmers. Narendra Modi wants your land, whose price will increase. So for this, he will not increase MSP, he will not waive off your loan and won’t help you.” 

Giving succour to distressed farmers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced waiver of interest and penal interest on crop loans from cooperative banks for the current fiscal. He also announced <g data-gr-id="28">hike</g> in compensation from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for families of farmers who had committed suicide.

Further attacking Modi  in the backdrop of UP’s Dadri incident, Gandhi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engineering riots before “every election” and claimed that the Prime Minister intervenes later to call for peace.

Gandhi said the grand alliance of Congress, RJD and JD-U will defeat BJP in Bihar. “BJP has only one card and that is making people fight. Wherever there is an election, before elections they engineer riots and then their Prime Minister will say don’t fight,” he said.