Jharsuguda: Two days ago the Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said at a press meet in Bhubaneswar that his party would waive farmers’ loan if his party comes to power.
In a sharp U-turn, Patnaik said Friday if the Congress was voted to power, there would be no waiver of farmers’ loan.
Patnaik said this while addressing a gathering at a workers’ convention on the occasion of Janajagaran Yatra organised at Satsang Bhawan in Jharsuguda.
Instead of waiving loans, his party will take steps to empower the farming community by providing ancillary facilities like solar equipment and long-term loan facilities, he said, adding that unlike BJD, Congress will give top priority to woman, children, tribals and farmers.
The victory of Congress in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Assembly polls seemed to have enthused the prospects of the party in the state and Patnaik.
Targeting some Congress leaders who are planning to join BJD, he warned that there would be no sign of BJD within the next two years.
“Both the BJD and BJP are weak now. They are now in the process of inducting Congress leaders and workers into their respective parties,” he pointed out.
Some of such leaders are in talks with the leaders of the two parties. But they should realise that what would become of them after two years. At that time, the Congress’s door will have remained shut for them forever, he said.
Meanwhile Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das launched a verbal attack on BJP and BJD.
He said the Modi government that had come to power on false promises have started crumbling. Public opinion in favour of AICC president Rahul Gandhi is building up. He urged the workers to make the fist of Rahul Gandhi more powerful in the 2019 general elections.
Senior Congress leader Hemananda Biswal also chose the occasion to criticise both the state and Centre governments.
Kishore Patel, Hamid Hussain, AICC secretary Mastan Ali and Girish Panda have also attended the convention.
PNN