Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national rival, the Indian National Congress (led by Rahul Gandhi) has made a bunch of populist promises in a bid to thwart Narendra Modi's bid for a third straight term as Prime Minister.
One of the key highlights in the Congress manifesto include a payment of ₹1 lakh to every poor family in India. This would be comparable to the incumbent government's existing guarantee of ₹6,000 a year given to the country's farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme.
Sitharaman, in response, called the Congress' promise of ₹1 lakh a year 'irresponsible'. "Where will the money come from?" she asked in an interview with CNBC Awaaz, highlighting the potential strain on the country's finances.
However, parties may not be immune to the compulsions of electoral politics.
"From one perspective, there's a case for an increase. But we have to see how we move forward. Many small farmers are still to be brought under the ambit of PM-KISAN. At this stage, I can't say whether it will be increased or not," Sitharaman said.
Congress has also promised farmers a guaranteed minimum support price for many crops.
This has been a demand from a section of the country's farmers, who even went on a protest recently.
"Congress has no moral ground to speak about MSP-related matters. At the bi-annual meeting of the WTO in 2013, the Congress government of the time agreed to stop procurement by the state. If Modi hadn't withdrawn from the agreement, there would have been no procurement from the farmers," she added.
ALSO READ: BJP manifesto, the Sankalp Patra — here's all you need to know
One of the key highlights in the Congress manifesto include a payment of ₹1 lakh to every poor family in India. This would be comparable to the incumbent government's existing guarantee of ₹6,000 a year given to the country's farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme.
Sitharaman, in response, called the Congress' promise of ₹1 lakh a year 'irresponsible'. "Where will the money come from?" she asked in an interview with CNBC Awaaz, highlighting the potential strain on the country's finances.
However, parties may not be immune to the compulsions of electoral politics.
So, will the BJP respond to the Congress manifesto with an increase in PM-KISAN instalments after the election?
"From one perspective, there's a case for an increase. But we have to see how we move forward. Many small farmers are still to be brought under the ambit of PM-KISAN. At this stage, I can't say whether it will be increased or not," Sitharaman said.
Congress has also promised farmers a guaranteed minimum support price for many crops.
This has been a demand from a section of the country's farmers, who even went on a protest recently.
"Congress has no moral ground to speak about MSP-related matters. At the bi-annual meeting of the WTO in 2013, the Congress government of the time agreed to stop procurement by the state. If Modi hadn't withdrawn from the agreement, there would have been no procurement from the farmers," she added.
ALSO READ: BJP manifesto, the Sankalp Patra — here's all you need to know
First Published: Apr 18, 2024 3:58 PM IST
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