Agencies
New Delhi, March 9:
Riding high on the "historic" farm loan waiver, the Congress on Sunday virtually launched its election campaign with party chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attacking the BJP for neglecting the farm sector and for its handling of terrorism.
A highlight of the rally was Prime Minister's assurance that the farm loan waiver would be implemented by June this year, which is significant in the wake of questions being asked as to how the scheme would be put into operation. "I promise you that there will be no laxity in implementing the decision and the whole package would be implemented by July," he said amidst applause by the huge crowd that comprised a large number of farmers from nearby states like Haryana, Punjab and UP.
Lashing out at the previous BJP-led NDA government for the plight of farmers in the country, the Prime Minister while addressing .
The huge 'Kisan Rally' in the capital, said that six-year NDA rule ignored the interests of farmers. "As a result, they had to face a lot of problems," he added.
Dr Singh further said that welfare of the farmers and development of agriculture were among the top priorities of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.
My government is committed to implement the massive Rs 60,000-crore agriculture loan waiver scheme, which will benefit around four crore farmers, by July, Dr Singh said taking a pledge that there will be no dilly dallying in the implementation of the farm loan waiver scheme. It will be implemented by July," he said.
Listing out the steps taken by his government for the welfare of farmers, he said the UPA government had doubled agriculture credit, increased the minimum support price and implemented a rural employment guarantee scheme for the benefit of the poor.
Addressing the rally, Sonia Gandhi said, "Our farmers are distressed because of the wrong policies of the previous government." She thanked the Prime Minister for the loan-waiver scheme for small farmers announced in Union Budget 2008-09. Farmers were providers of foodgrains and should be taken care of, she added.
Called the 'Dhanyawad Abhinandan' rally, it was organised by the Congress to send across the message of a farmer-friendly government ahead of Lok Sabha elections due next year.
Though Pranab Mukherjee had yesterday ruled out the possibility of an early election even after repeated threats from Left partners of withdrawal of support over the Indo-US nuclear deal, observers feel the massive response to Sunday's gathering could only trigger an early poll.
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