Youth in rural areas not benefitting from PM Modi's 'Make in India': Rahul Gandhi

Continuing his assault on the Centre over its 'anti-poor, anti-farmer' policies, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to waive off the loans of many farmers, just as he did with entrepreneurs and businessmen.

Speaking to the media here from the middle of his Kisan Yatra, Rahul stated that the condition of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh is really bad, as most of them are suffering from the pressure of loans.

"There is a secondary issue of Bima's, as farmers pay the amount of Bimar but do not get the benefits later. Through this yatra, I want Prime Minister Modi to hear the voice of farmers and hopes that he waives off their loans," he said.

Claiming that the Prime Minister has waived the loans of Rs 1, 10, 000 of entrepreneurs and businessmen, Rahul added that the former should extend the same courtesy to the farmers.

"Wherever I have gone so far, I have asked if there is any youth who has received a job under the Prime Minister's Make in India and until now, not a single youth has received a job. PM Modi said 15 lakh rupees will be given to farmers, but now Gadkari is saying that the slogan of 'Acche Din' has become an obstacle," Rahul stated.

Earlier Union Minister Nitin Gadkari courted controversy by saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's famous slogan of 'acche din' had originally been coined by his predecessor Manmohan Singh but has now become the "millstone" around the NDA government's neck.

"Acche din maanne se hota hai (Good days depends on one's belief). It was at an NRI meet in Delhi that Manmohan Singh had said that 'Acche din ayenge' (good days will come). When asked when 'acche din' will come, Singh had replied, 'in the future'. Modiji said the same thing somewhere and it has now become the millstone around our neck," Gadkari said at an event.