Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 11
Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi today accused the government of practising “shameful double standards” in respect of industrialists and farmers and said where the government was waiving debts of businessmen, it was not ready to help the farmers.
Making a rare zero hour reference close on the heels of one made by his mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul flagged the condition of farmers in Kerala demanding positive interventions from the Centre.
“In Kerala, 18 farmers have committed suicide since banks began recovery procedures one-and-a-half years ago. The Kerala government has announced a moratorium on repayment of farm loans for all Kerala farmers till December 31. Meanwhile, the Centre is refusing to direct the RBI to consider this moratorium and get it implemented. In the past five years, the BJP government has given Rs 4.3 lakh crore in tax concessions and waived Rs 5.5 lakh crore for rich businessmen. Why is there this shameful double standards? Why does the government act as if our farmers are inferior to the rich?” asked Gandhi amid interruptions.
He said farmers across India were suffering.
Mentioning one Ankittan, a farmer of Wayanad who committed suicide due to debt, Gandhi said, “In Wayanad alone, bank notices for non-payment of loans have been given to almost 8,000 farmers. They are facing the threat of immediate eviction. Their properties are attached against their bank loans. This is resulting in a spate of farmer suicides.”
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2NLnAm7
via Today’s News Headlines
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