Rahul-led Congress delegation meets PM Narendra Modi, demands farm loan waiver

New Delhi: Amid the war of words between the government and the Opposition over demonestisataion, a Congress delegation led by Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday over issues concerning the farmers.

Besides Rahul, senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Khrage, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Capt. Amrinder Singh, Raj Babbar were among those who met the PM at his office in Parliament and submitted a 'Mang Patra' (demand letter).

Later addressing the media, Rahul said, “We met the Prime Minister over the plight of farmers in the society. Farmers are committing suicide in the country, every day a farmer is committing suicide in Punjab...government has removed import duty on wheat, that is a devastating blow. The farmers want that there loans be waived off.”

Referring to the Kisan Yatra undertaken by him in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said, “The farmers had mainly three demands. Loan waiver, reduction in electricity bill by half and the right price for thier proiduce.”

“We told the Prime Minister that farmers of the country want him to waive off farm loans, we want that the way the government (UPA) had waved off Rs 1,40000 crore worth of farm loans, the Prime Minister to do the same,” Rahul said.

As per reports, the Prime Minister has assured the Congress delegation that he will look into the issues be raised by them.

Later in the day, the Opposition party leaders will meet President Pranab Mukherjee over the demonetisation issue.