Big announcement for farmers likely in interim budget

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 18

As Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce loan waiver for farmers and newly-anointed chief ministers of his party went on a waiver spree, the BJP called it all a "publicity stunt for vote bank politics".

But it seems the Modi government is looking for ways to counter the Congress' populist move and its aftereffects. Expectations now are that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley may announce some big sops or budgetary provision for the agrarian community around or in the interim Budget/ Vote on Account before ethe Lok Sabha elections. Interestingly, while BJP leaders here have derided Congress chief ministers on the issue, its BJP's Odisha unit has promised to waive-off farm loans in the state if the voted to power in the 2019 Assembly elections. The announcement was made by BJP state president Basant Panda at a press conference today.

Odisha polls along with the Lok Sabha elections.

Though Finance Minister Jaitley continues to hold on his earlier stance that a loan waiver is not a viable or permanent solution to the problem, losses in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana have put pressure on the BJP. Farmer distress has been singled out as a major problem, giving rise to speculations that the Centre may dole out some major sops between now and elections which the FM can highlight it in his Budget speech

The customary Vote on Account, or the interim Budget, in February will be the last chance for the BJP-led government to woo back rural/agriculture communities, say sources.

Ram Temple echoes in Parliamentary party meeting

In the BJP's parliamentary party meeting, the Ram temple echoed with some MPs asking when it will be constructed to which Home Minister Rajnath Singh said everyone wanted it and asked them to be patient. BJP sources said Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh Ravindra Kushwaha and Hari Narayan Rajbhar raised the issue, drawing support from several others. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief Amit Shah were not present in the meeting.

Right wing organisations, including the Sangh parivaar, have been demanding early construction of the temple, pitching for a law to enable it. Though the BJP agrees with their sentiments, it has so far not come out in support of an enabling legislation. 

A section within the party, however, believes paving way for construction of a temple at Ayodhya will boost their prospects in coming general elections.

Meanwhile, Singh asserted the opposition has no leader to match Modi's popularity and asked party MPs to work for the re-election in 2019. "We are far ahead of the opposition, circumstances are very good for us," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, quoting him. 

He also said the passage of the triple talaq bill was a top priority for the government. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad briefed party MPs on the Supreme Court judgement on the Rafale issue and the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in an anti-Sikh riot case-issues that reverberated in both Houses of Parliament today.