'Farmers fearful of Modi sarkar'

Unnao: Offering a strong rebuttal to Union finance minister Arun Jaitley's jibe on why the Congress party didn't present a separate farmer budget during the UPA regime, instead of demanding it now, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said farmers had confidence in the Congress government and are now afraid of being short-changed by the 'Modi sarkar'.
Addressing a gathering in Unnao during his UP Kisan Yatra, Rahul said, "Jaitley ji, we didn't need a farmer budget because the farmers trusted us.We gave them bonus, increased MSP, and gave them loan waivers. Modi wants to turn farmers into labourers, and to snatch their land. But we will never allow that to happen," he said.Rahul said farm community was fearful of the incumbent BJP government - it believed it would not get its due . On Thursday, Rahul also continued his farmer outreach, visiting villages and meeting farmers to hear their stories of distress.
Playing host to a political leader of Rahul's seniority for the very first time, there was an air of festivity in Pachoddha village. But during his entire duration of stay in the village, there was no power supply. Policemen had a tough time managing the crowd as villagers were eager to have a glimpse of Rahul Gandhi whom they had never seen except on their TV sets. Rahul mingled well with the crowd but there were many villagers who were disappointed that Rahul did not meet them and visited only those houses which had been selected for him in advance.
Rahul reached farmer Ganeshi Lal Saini's house for lunch and interacted with the family and took a note of their life. Rahul asked Ganeshi how he manages to earn daily bread for his two membered family and other problems concerning him. When Ganeshi informed Rahul that he is under a debt of Rs 1.73 lakh, Gandhi assured him that he will take the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For this purpose he asked Ganeshi to fill a form regarding the details of his loan that he would hand over to the PM.
"If Modi ji will not do anything for you (waive off your loan), Congress government will do it when it returns to power", said Rahul. After interaction Rahul finished his lunch within a few span of minutes in Ganeshi's house amid no power supply. Ganeshi had served arhar daal, roti, rice, curd, aloo ki sabzi, tamatar ki chutney and sweets to Rahul for his lunch.
Rahul also visited the house of Santosh Saini, a farmer who owns three bighas of land and assured him that efforts would be made to get his loan waived off. Santosh told TOI that he was hopeful that Rahul will get his loan waived. He met Santosh's family and took his five year old son Apurv in his lap and cuddled him for a while before asking people gathered around to click his photograph with the boy. Soon after this Rahul got several pictures clicked with the five year old.
When Rahul questioned Apurv what he aims to become in his life, the boy replied that he wants to be a pilot. It was after this Rahul told the boy that even his father late Rajiv Gandhi used to fly aeroplane.
Rahul went inside the mud-thatched house of Santosh. Talking to TOI, Santosh said that Rahul Ji's visit to my house has brought me immense pleasure. "He assured me that PM Narendra Modi would be pressurised to get my loan of Rs 1.70 lakh waived off and if Modi Ji will not do so, Congress government on being elected next term will do it. He met my entire family especially my son and got pictures clicked with him," said Santosh.
Santosh's wife Sharmila told TOI that Rahul spoke to her for two minutes and asked her if she had a job or not. "I told Rahul Ji that I want to work as I am a graduate and qualified. Rahul Ji assured me that he will try to help me out", said Sharmila.
In tight security of SPG, Rahul soon after entering the Pachoddha village went inside the house of farmer Gauri Shanker Yadav and met his family of six people. Rahul told me that the proposal of waving off loan which I had taken through Kisan Credit Card from Punjab National Bank would be kept before Modi Ji. He assured me that the loan would be waived off. Rahul also met my daughters and asked me that if they were studying or not. "I told Rahul that due to poverty that two of my daughters had to leave the studies in between. Rahul and former congress MP Annu Tandon told me that my daughters will study and that these expenses would be borne by them", said Yadav while talking to TOI.
Rahul also spent time at the home of farmer Funnar Lal and interacted with Funnar and his family. Funnar told TOI that he has a loan of Rs 50,000 on him and that Rahul mentioned that he will get my loan waived off.
Before Rahul's departure, villagers brought to his notice the absence of roads and a proper drainage system in the village.