Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday led a delegation of top party leaders to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to waive off loans taken by distressed farmers.
Based on feedback collected during his month-long Kisan Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi informed the PM on a number of problems faced by farmers. Modi, Gandhi claims, acknowledged the points raised by the Congress but did not comment on its demand for loan-waiver to farmers.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister addressed BJP lawmakers, where he accused the Congress of placing its own interests over and above the national interest. Referring to repeated disruptions in the Winter session of Parliament, Modi said that the Opposition was blocking his BJP-led government’s effort to eradicate ill-gotten wealth. Additionally, he also asked party lawmakers to spread word about the government’s ‘Cashless India’ mission.
Meanwhile, members of the Opposition met President Pranab Mukherjee over a washed out session of Parliament. The delegation included Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Ever since its commencement, the Parliament’s Winter Session has been mired in chaos and conflict over the Centre’s landmark decision to scrap high denomination notes on November 7. While the Centre itself has adjusted the goals of demonetisation-from black money to cashless economy – it has so far failed to secure the Opposition’s consent on the matter.
Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui