PM Modi promised Rs 15 lakh in every bank account, but I will...: Rahul Gandhi

Taking a dig at the BJP, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the party gives farmers' money to the Adani Group and claimed that it works for the benefit of "two-three industrialists". 

Ahead of the Assembly election in Chhattisgarh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday promised that he would waive loans of farmers in the state. Gandhi made the remarks as he took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "false promises".

Addressing an election rally in the Bhanupratappur assembly constituency in Kanker district, Rahul said, "They (BJP) cannot waive off farmers' loans, they can only waive off Adani's loan. We had said that farmers' loans would be waived and we did that. I am making this promise once again that we will again waive the loans of the farmers of Chhattisgarh."

PM Modi had promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh in every bank account but did nothing. I will not make false promises to you. I do what I say," Gandhi added.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the party gives farmers' money to the Adani Group and claimed that it works for the benefit of "two-three industrialists".

If you look at any government, there are ways to benefit the richest people of the state or country or help the poorest people of the country or state. While our government helps farmers, labourers and the poor, the BJP government only talks big but helps Adani in the end," Rahul Gandhi said.

Apart from promising to waive farmers' loans in Chhattisgarh, Gandhi also promised free education for schools and colleges.

"We are going to take a major step for you which we call ‘KG to PG’. From KG (kindergarten) to PG (post-graduation), free education will be provided in government institutions for students. They will not have to pay a single penny,” Rahul Gandhi said.

He also promised Rs 4,000 a year for ‘tendu’ leaves collectors if his party retains power in the state.

Pushing for a caste census, Gandhi asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi brings up ‘OBC’ (other backward class) in his speeches, then why he is scared of the census.

“Narendra Modi ji uses the word ‘OBC’ in every speech, but why is he scared of the caste census? OBCs have to become aware that they are being ditched," Gandhi said.

He also announced that the Congress would conduct a caste census in the country if it is voted to power at the Centre.

Reiterating his earlier stance on only 3 out of 90 secretaries of the government being from the OBC community, Rahul said, "The government is run by 90 officers. MPs do not run the government. Out of these 90, only 3 people are from the OBC community. The BJP spends only 5 per cent of the country's budget on the OBCs. The population of the OBC category is more than 50%, but Modi ji hides this. He says his government supports OBCs but he lies."

Rahul Gandhi made similar remarks on the caste census during the special session of Parliament in September