Launching the Rashtriya Lok Dal’s (RDL) Election campaign for upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, the party president Jayant Chaudhary on 7th October (Thursday) promised the farmers of the state that the party would double the amount they receive under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, if voted to power. At present, the farmers who are eligible under this scheme receive Rs 6,000 in three installments.
Jayant Chaudhary said that the “Farmers & labor should have first right to the resources of state. For the beneficiaries of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, the state will contribute Rs 6,000 in one installment to be paid on 23rd December, on the birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Separate Category for Small Farmers
Unlike the Centre’s scheme, Jayant Chaudhary is giving a sneak peek into party’s manifesto, and said that the party had created a separate category for the small farmers on non-irrigated lands. Under Chaudhary Charan Singh Krishak Samman Scheme, they receive Rs 9,000 above the amount, which obtained under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme”. Chaudhary also said that the present schemes are not enough to help the farmers to lead a life of Samman (Dignity).
He then takes about the Lakhimpur Violence and said, “When the Prime Minister visited Lucknow, we expected him to go to the Lakhimpur as well but he didn’t & when the Home Minister summoned his deputy to the National Capital, we thought that he would be shunted out but now it seems that he has been allowed to brazen it out”.
Jayant Chaudhary on Uttar Pradesh’s CM
While attacking the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, Jayant Chaudhary said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promoted Yogi Adityanath’s bachelorhood as his biggest strength, “but in the Indian tradition, the family has been described as Man’s strength”.
Ajay Kumar, Co-Conver of Lok Sankalp Patra, RDL’s Election Manifesto said that the promise would not add to fiscal stress of the state. “Farmers constitute at least half of the population of state. If you put some into their pocket, it is bound to come back to market & help the economy”.
