Team News Riveting
Jagdalpur, October 28
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday hinted that the farmers would be paid Rs 3000 for a quintal of paddy if the party retained power in Chhattisgarh.
“We had promised to give Rs 2,500 per quintal for paddy to farmers and now they are getting Rs 2,640 per quintal as our intention is clear,” Gandhi said while addressing an election meeting in Bhanupratappur and Farasgaon on Saturday. After some period, it will become Rs 3,000 per quintal, he added.
As promised in the election manifesto in 2018, the Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel is paying over Rs 2500 for a quintal of paddy procured by the government in the state. The difference of amount from the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the central government is paid by the state government under its ambitious Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana.
The indication is seen as yet another card played by the party to vow the farmers, who reportedly played a vital role in Congress’ historic victory in 2018; trouncing BJP’s 15 years of rule in Chhattisgarh. Early this week, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced to waive off farm loans if Congress retains power in the state. The development is significant as it has put the BJP on the backfoot as the state gears up to go for two-phase state assembly elections.
The polling for the 90 assembly constituencies will be held on November 7 and 17. In the first phase, 20 constituencies including Bhanupratappur and Farasgaon will go to the polls on November 7.
The former Congress President Rahul Gandhi also promised free education in government schools and colleges in Chhattisgarh, Rs 4,000 a year for ‘tendu’ leaves collectors if his party retains power in the state. Caste census will be conducted in the country if the Congress is voted to power (at the Centre), he added.
“We are going to take a major step for you which we call ‘KG to PG’. From KG (kindergarten) to PG (post-graduation), free education will be provided in government institutions to students (if Congress retains power in the state). They will not have to pay a single penny,” Gandhi said, adding that the Congress government in Chhattisgarh has opened Swami Atmanand English Medium Schools to provide quality education.
