Gujarat Congress promises farm loan waiver, free electricity to farmers ahead of polls

Ahmedabad: Taking a cue from freebies announced by the Aam Aadmi Party for the coming Gujarat elections, Gujarat Congress President Jagdish Thakor said today that if Congress is elected, it will waive farm loans up to Rs 3 lakh and provide farmers with free electricity for 10 hours a day.

“Farmers in Gujarat are reeling under huge debt. But instead of providing relief, the BJP had waived loans of industrialists. In the first cabinet meeting after coming to power, Congress will make a decision to abolish all the farm loans below Rs 3 lakh,” Thakor said.

“If Congress comes to power, it will provide free electricity to farmers for 10 hours, that too during the day. We will also withdraw penalties and cases of electricity theft lodged against farmers,” he added in a press conference here.

He further claimed that Khedut Sahay Kendra will be set up in every taluka and the land measurement will be conducted again if they come to power. He also said that if his party would bring a law to prohibit the purchase of farm produce below the minimum support price (MSP).

Other promises made by Congress include 33 percent reservation for women in cooperative bodies in the state, a change in laws to “free cooperative sector from the clutches of BJP” and a bonus of Rs 5 per liter to cattle-rearers in addition to the milk procurement price.

Interestingly, the opposition party in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state made these announcements days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made a host of promises, including free electricity of up to 300 units every month and an allowance for unemployed youths and women.

DeshGujarat