PM Modi an economist as he has seen poverty and understands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an economist in his own way because he has seen poverty and is attached to the grassroots, Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said today.
Gehlot said though the erstwhile Congress led UPA government had several well-qualified and respectable economists like former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
"But PM Modi is an economist of the people. He is different because he knows what are the problems of this country. He is an economist who has seen poverty and faced it in his own life.
"Modi is firmly attached to the roots of this country. He is an economist who knows problems of the poor people and is trying to solve them," the minister said while speaking to reporters here.

Gehlot was in the city along with union minister of state and president of the Punjab unit of the Bhartiya Janata Party Vijay Sampla to speak about the achievements of the Narendra Modi led NDA government in its three years.
In reply to a question, Gehlot said that waiver of farmer loans is a 'state subject' and the state government should deal with it accordingly.

"However, if any assistance is required from the central government, we are always open for discussions," he said.
Gehlot claimed that it is in BJP ruled states that farmers are getting the maximum benefits.
BJP ruled states like Madhya Pradesh are providing maximum help and subsidies to farmers, he said.

"The MP government is not only providing interest free loan to farmers but ten per cent subsidy on the basic amount of the loan," he added.
On another issue, Gehlot said Dr B R Ambedkar was wrongly portrayed as a leader of Dalits only.
"He was a visionary, a leader of masses who talked of development and welfare of every community, not Dalits alone. His vision and idea of welfare extended beyond caste and community," said Gehlot.