"The farmers of the country have not gained real freedom even after six decades of independence...They are jailed for not clearing loans worth thousands of rupees whereas big industrialists go unpunished even without returning crores of rupees of loan," the MP from Sultanpur said while addressing kisan panchayats on the first day of his two-day visit here.
Stressing that separate laws are enforced for farmers and industrialists, Gandhi said properties of farmers are attached if they fail to clear loans of Rs 50,000 and they are sent to jail.
Meanwhile, supporters of the BJP leader raised slogans demanding his projection as the party's chief ministerial candidate in the next state Assembly polls scheduled in 2017 during the kisan panchayats.
Gandhi who held panchayats at Rampur, Dhobiyapur, Gaiaghat and Nanpara distributed monetary help of Rs 2,500 each to the residents of Shivpur block who faced floods because of release of water from dams recently.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
