29 May
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge announced sweeping agricultural reforms if the India coalition comes to power. Campaigning for Congress candidate Gurjit Singh Aujla, Kharge pledged to waive farmers’ loans, ensure crop purchases at Minimum Support Price (MSP), and abolish GST on agricultural products.
Kharge dismissed BJP’s claim of winning over 400 seats as absurd, predicting they would not secure more than 200 in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Criticizing the Modi government, he accused it of increasing inflation, causing fuel prices to soar, and failing to address unemployment, with over one crore posts vacant nationwide.
Highlighting the plight of farmers, Kharge referenced the death of 750 farmers during recent protests, blaming the government’s inaction. He contrasted Modi’s administration with Manmohan Singh’s tenure, noting Singh’s effectiveness and the waiver of 72,000 crore rupees in farmers’ loans.
Kharge emphasized that an India coalition government would prioritize relief for farmers and criticized Modi for favoring corporate houses over common citizens. He concluded by reiterating that BJP’s claims of electoral dominance lack credibility due to their weak presence in many states.