Ahead of MP polling, Rahul promises schemes for farmers, youths, women

With Madhya Pradesh going to assembly polls on Wednesday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday promised schemes for the welfare of the state's farmers, women, and youths, while focusing on their plight under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

In a letter address to the people of the state, Rahul said that while he thinks of the state as a symbol of "the farmer's willpower, daughter's self-confidence, youth's hopes and the victory" of the poor, that identity of the state has been heavily damaged in the last 15 years.

"Here, farmers are shot in the chest when they demand the right price for their crops. Their expectations are quashed. The youth's opportunities are now in the dark, and girls' future is full of fear," Rahul said in his letter.

He highlighted various scams and incidents of misgovernance in the last 15 years under the BJP government, including the 'Vyapam' entrance examination scam, the heightened cases of oppression against women, malnutrition, sand mafia, e-tender scam, and so on.

The Congress president further said that the upliftment of the farmers is equal to the upliftment of the economy, adding that the economy will be pushed back on track only if the farmers are financially stable.

"I cannot understand why the BJP is against this (farmer welfare). I am pleased that due to the Congress' efforts, the political debates in the country are being shifted towards farmer-issues. We are committed to waiving off farmer loans within ten days of being elected to power. Farmer's children will be given the opportunity to work in agro-industries," Rahul said in the letter.

"We will guarantee the right price for crops. We will give Rs 51, 000 as support the marriage of every girl. Their education will be free from school to Ph.D. The dreams of the homeless and the small farmers will be fulfilled. We are committed to fulfilling the promises we make in industrial investment and education. I appeal to the citizens of the state--let's give Madhya Pradesh a better government," the letter concluded.

The letter comes a day ahead of the assembly elections on Wednesday when the state's electorate will be electing the representatives of 230 constituencies. The results for the single-phase elections will be declared on December 11.