BJP counters Rahul Gandhi on his comments against Modi

In a Facebook post, Union Finance Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley said: "Every time I listen to the view of Shri Rahul Gandhi, both inside and outside Parliament, I ask myself the same question – How much does he know? When will he know? Listening to his speech delivered in Madhya Pradesh today reaffirms my curiosity about the answer. Is he being inadequately briefed or is he being a little too liberal with his facts."

Jaitley said Gandhi's comment on Modi waiving loans of Rs.2.5 lakh crores of the 15 top industrialists in the country was factually incorrect.

"The Government has not waived of a single rupee due from any industrialist. The facts are to the contrary. Those who owed money to the banks and other creditors have been declared insolvent and removed from their companies by IBC enacted by Prime Minister Modi’s Government. These loans were given largely during the UPA Government," Jaitley countered.

Speaking on the issue of loans, he said: "This was during the UPA Government, particularly UPA II, when bulk of amount constitute the NPA’s today were given by the banking system during the period 2008-14. From 2014 we have been systematically taking one step after the other to recover these monies back."

Jaitley countered Gandhi and said that bank frauds started in 2011 during the Congress-loed government rule.

"This banking fraud started in the year 2011 when the UPA II was in power. It was only detected during the NDA period," Jaitley wrote.

Speaking on job creation issue, he said:"The latest GDP date has reemphasised India as the fastest growing economy in the world. There is a double digit growth in construction, expansion in manufacturing, an increased capital formation which indicates investment increase, large investment in physical infrastructure and increased investment in rural India. All these are job creating sectors."

Gandhi on Wednesday promised that his party will ensure waiver of farmers' loans if it comes to power in Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing an election  rally at Piplya Mandi town in Mandsaur district where seven farmers were killed in police firing last year, Gandhi said, “I assure you when Congress forms a government in Madhya Pradesh, farmers’ loans will be waivered within 10 days."

He also said that the families of those who were killed in Mandsaur last year will get justice in 10 days and action will be taken against those responsible for the firing.

“We want farmers to get the respect they deserve.I will not say that I will give you Rs 15 lakh. But I will do what I say. I will not tell you my ‘mann ki Baat’ but I will listen to yours,” he said.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for doing nothing for farmers, the Congress President said, “Modi government praises farmers but when they demand the right price for their produce and ask for their loans to be waivered, his government does not listen.”

Earlier, Gandhi paid his respects to the farmers killed in last year’s police firing in Mandsaur and met their families.

“One year after the Mandsaur firing, the investigation report is still not here. The families of the martyred farmers await justice. I understand the pain of losing family. Today I spent some time with these families and shared their pain," he tweeted.

The Congress hopes to ride farmer discontent to pull a breakthrough in Madhya Pradesh being ruled by the BJP since 2003. Gandhi threw his weight behind the farmers’ protest in several states between June 1 and June 10, to observe the anniversary of the Mandsaur firing.