If Cong comes to power, no farmer will be jailed for not repaying loans: Rahul in MP

Jatara: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said no farmer in the country will be jailed for not repaying loans if his party comes to power at the Centre.

Addressing a rally here in Tikamgarh district of Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi blamed the NDA government's decisions of demonetisation and implementation of GST for "large-scale unemployment" in the country. "When the Congress government comes to power, no farmer will be sent to jail for not repaying bank loans," he said.

Gandhi claimed that lakhs of youth lost jobs because of demonetisation and GST as production in factories stopped due to lack of demand in the market. "People have no money left with them as it was taken away by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through demonetisation," he said.

Referring to the 'NYAY' poverty-alleviation scheme proposed by the Congress in its Lok Sabha poll manifesto, Gandhi said it will provide Rs 72,000 per year to those whose earning is less than Rs 12,000 per month.

"Like MNREGA, this scheme will hugely benefit the people of Budelkhand region," Gandhi said. Targeting Modi, he said after completion of half of the Lok Sabha poll process, the prime minister's face has "withered" and claimed he will certainly lose in the elections and that the Congress would come to power. The Congress has fielded Kiran Ahirwar from Tikmagarh Lok Sabha seat against BJP's sitting MP and Union minister Virendra Kumar Khatik.

Lok Sabha elections for the 29 seats in MP are being held in four phases. Polling for the first phase was held on Monday and the remaining seats will go to polls on May 6, 12 and 19.

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