Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme transferring the first instalment of Rs 2,000 each to over one crore farmers, as he slammed the opposition alleging they "remember farmers once in 10 years -- just before elections".
Initiating the electronic transfer of Rs 2,000 each, he said the first instalment of money under the scheme has been deposited in accounts of 1.01 crore farmers and those who have been left out will get it soon.
"The first instalment of money under the scheme has been deposited in the bank accounts of the farmers directly...those who have been left out will get it soon," Modi told the gathering at the Fertiliser Corporation of India ground here.
The Prime Minister also interacted with a select group of farmers, representing different states, through video-conferencing and took a swipe at his political rivals.
"They remember farmers once in 10 years -- just before elections. They get fever of loan waiver and distribute it as 'revari" (dole) to garner votes....they did not know that Modi will expose them this time," he said.
The Prime Minister started his speech by chanting 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' and said that for his government, the Rs 75,000-crore scheme is not an election promise. He said he talked about it in Parliament only after making budgetary allocations for it.
"Loan waivers would have been easy and convenient for us too. We could also have distributed 'revari' for political and election benefits, but we can't commit such a sin. Loan waiver benefits only a select few," he said.
Taking a jibe at opposition parties, he said that previous governments made schemes for farmers "only on paper".
"Our opponents have become dispirited because after PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, farmers will support Modi. We make even the impossible possible," he said.
"The Congress, the 'mahamilavat' (highly adulterated)...SP, BSP, they are all same," he said.
"The state governments that are doing politics and not sending the list of farmers will face the curse of farmers and it will destroy their politics," he stressed.
Targeting the Congress government on the issue of loan waiver, Modi said, "They gave loan waiver of Rs 52,000 crore in 10 years and we are giving Rs 75,000 crore to farmers every year."
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