Rahul grades Modi 'F' for performance in Karnataka's agri sector
New Delhi, May 3: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of letting down farmers in Karnataka and gave him 'F' Grade in a report card, saying there was no contribution from the Centre to the state's farm loan waiver.
Gandhi said that the Prime Minister's crop insurance scheme had made the "farmers suffer" while filling the coffers of the private insurance companies which have made "huge profits".
He tweeted that the Congress will, in the next five years, create a unique "Agricultural Corridor" for 10 agro climatic zones in the state to develop sustainable agri businesses.
The Congress chief said the farmers did not receive price of crops at 50 per cent above the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
"Contribution to Congress state governments 8,500 crore Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs.
"PM's crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; (private) insurance companies make huge profits.
"No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F,"
He said the Congress government in the state had launched several schemes that has helped farmers.
"Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Dhare, Krishi Yantra Dhare, Surya Raitha and Loan waivers improved the lives of Karnataka's farmers. In the next 5 years, INC will create a unique 'Agricultural Corridor' for 10 agro climatic zones to develop sustainable agri businesses," he said.
The attack came ahead of polling for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, to be held on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15.
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Two FIRs lodged against Mithun Chakraborty for 'provocative' speech
Kolkata, Nov 6: Two FIRs have been lodged against actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty for allegedly making provocative statements during a BJP event in Salt Lake area near Kolkata last month, police said on Wednesday.
The complaints pertain to Chakraborty's speech on October 27 at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake, during a BJP programme attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Kolkata to launch the party's West Bengal membership drive.
The first FIR was filed at the Bidhannagar South police station based on a complaint by an individual, while the second was lodged at Bowbazar police station.
"We have started an investigation into the case," a senior officer of Bidhannagar police said.
Shah was also present at the programme, which was organised to kick off the West Bengal leg of the BJP's membership drive. Shah had also felicitated Chakraborty for being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award this year.
Although Chakraborty was unavailable for comment, BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar described the FIRs a result of "vendetta politics.".
Majumdar alleged that the TMC government "has once again used the police to unfairly target well-known actor and senior BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty".
He accused the chief minister of employing such tactics "to serve political interests" and claimed that the state government's actions were part of an ongoing attempt to discredit political opponents.
"There is nothing provocative in his speech. These are nothing but attempts to intimidate him by using police as a political tool," he said.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh dubbed the BJP's allegations as baseless.
"The allegations of political vendetta are baseless. He shouldn't have made such provocative remarks. The law will take its own course," he said.
Chakraborty, who received India's highest film honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, earlier this year, had asserted on October 27 that the 'masnad' (throne) of West Bengal would belong to the BJP after the 2026 assembly elections, promising to do whatever it takes to achieve the goal.
While speaking at the programme, Chakraborty, a BJP leader, said, "In 2026, the 'masnad' will be ours, and we will do everything to achieve the goal."
In an apparent reference to TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's communal remarks aimed at BJP workers during the Lok Sabha elections, Chakraborty had allegedly made provocative remarks.
Chakraborty cautioned that no one should attempt to intimidate saffron party voters into abstaining from voting in the next assembly elections.
He called upon the booth-level workers of his party to resist any such attempts.
