PM Modi scared of debating with me because he will lose face: Rahul Gandhi

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the 2016 demonetisation decision of the Modi government had destroyed the economy and asserted that Congress's election promise of NYAY scheme will revive it.

"Manmohan Singh had said in parliament that India's GDP will suffer by 2 per cent due to demonetisation and the same thing was proven true after a year. NYAY will not only benefit five crore families and 25 crore people but would also help the economy by boosting the business of small and medium traders", he said addressing an election meeting here.

In an attempt to woo the farmer community in the region, Gandhi promised a separate farm budget if Congress comes to power.

"After 2019, there will be two budgets in parliament. First will be a budget for farmers and the second will be the national budget. Before the national budget, it must be told to farmers that how much assistance does government plans to give them, how much would be increment in MSP, how many food processing units and cold-storage would be opened up in the area among others," he said.

Promising employment to youth, the Congress President said if the Congress comes to power it would take steps to quickly fill 22 lakh vacant posts in the government sector within a year..

"Permissions are required to open a new business and we have decided that for small businesses, no permission from any government department will be required to be taken for three years," he said.

Gandhi reiterated his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate and claimed that he was not accepting it because of beinions said Gandhi.

"I have challenged PM Modi to a debate. I can have it anywhere he wants to, be it Race Course Road or Parliament house. I will only speak for fifteen minutes and he can speak for three hours but after those fifteen minutes, he will lose his face. He doesn't debate with me because he is scared," he said.

All 13 Lok Sabha seats of Punjab will be going to polls on May 19 in the Seventh phase of general elections. The results will be announced on May 23.