Cong's poll prospects have doomed with PM-KISAN: Amit Shah

BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday claimed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has realised that the grand old party is heading for a defeat in the upcoming polls with the announcement of a farmers' income support initiative announced in the interim Budget.

He also sought to project the BJP as the champion of tribals, saying the Narendra Modi government has raised budgetary allocation for their welfare to Rs 50,000 crore from Rs 30,700 crore made during the Congress-led UPA dispensation.

Addressing the valedictory session of the national convention of the BJP's ST Morcha in this pilgrim town, Shah made a scathing attack on the Congress, dubbing it "anti-tribal, anti-farmer, anti-fishermen and anti-Dalit".

The 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi' (PM-KISAN) initiative will pump in Rs 7.5 lakh crore in 10 years for farmers, much higher than the Rs 57,000 crore farm loan waiver during the UPA rule, the BJP chief said.

"When all members in Parliament cheered the announcement of PM-KISAN by thumping the desks, Rahul Gandhi looked extremely unhappy. Perhaps, he felt that the possibility of his party's victory in polls ended with this farmer assistance announcement," Shah said.

He said the Congress president could have shown some signs of happiness as the measure is going to benefit a large number of poor farmers.

To woo distressed farmers ahead of the general elections, the Centre announced the direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year to those holding cultivable land up to two hectare. The Centre had said it would benefit 12 crore farmers and cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore annually.

During its ten-year rule, the Congress-led UPA had spent only Rs 57,000 crore by waiving farm loans which benefitted three crore peasants, while more than 12 crore farmers will benefit from the PM-KISAN initiative, the BJP chief claimed.

"With an annual allocation of Rs 75,000 crore, a total of Rs 7.5 lakh crore will be provided for the benefit of farmers during the next ten years. It is much higher than the amount provided during the UPA rule," Shah said.

However, Rahul Gandhi is not capable of understanding the importance of this scheme as he is "ignorant of agriculture and the agony of farmers", he alleged.

"Rahul Baba does not even know what are rabi and kharif crops."