AHMEDABAD: Making a couple of significant poll promises, the Congress announced on Friday that it will provide free electricity to farmers for 10 hours during the day if voted to power in Gujarat. Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Jagdish Thakor said that the party will also enact a law prohibiting the purchase of farm produce below the minimum support price (MSP).
Speaking to media persons, Thakor said, “Although the ruling BJP claims that Gujarat is a power-surplus state, farmers do not get adequate electricity to carry out farming. We will provide free electricity to farmers for 10 hours, that too during the day and also withdraw penalties and cases of electricity theft lodged against farmers.” He also said that in the first cabinet meeting after coming to power, party will make a decision to abolish all farm loans below Rs 3 lakh and confer the status of ‘farmer’ to all cattle-rearers, empowering them to buy agri land. tnn