Gorakhpur, February 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the Rs 75,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and the opposition Congress referred this as ‘Cash for Vote’ scheme. Calling this as shameful to democracy, former Union finance minister P Chidambaram questioned Election Commission's silence.

Stating that the Election Commission is unable to stop the ‘Cash for Vote’ scheme, senior Congress leader took to Twitter and wrote, “Today is the ''Cash for Vote'' day. The BJP government will officially give a bribe of Rs. 2000 per agricultural family to get their votes.” He also wrote that the money would go to not only the cultivating farmers, but also to the absentee landlord. Narendra Modi to Launch PM-KISAN Scheme from Gorakhpur, Transfer Rs 2,000 Each to 1 Cr Farmer’s Bank Accounts Thought DBT.

 Here’s the Tweet:

Earlier in the day, PM Modi took to Twitter and stated that the Union government had fulfilled the promise of improving the distress of farmers in the country through KISAN scheme. He took wrote, “Tomorrow is a historic day! The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi will be launched from Gorakhpur. This is a scheme that will give wings to the aspirations of crores of hardworking farmers of India who feed our nation.”

Here’s the Tweet:

It is to be known that the Union government during the interim Budget – read out by Piyush Goyal – had announced that under the PM-KISAN scheme, Rs 6,000 per year would be given in three instalments to 12 crore small and marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to two hectares. This applies to the family comprising of husband, wife and minor children (up to 18 years of age).

With this scheme, the BJP-led government is trying to reach out to the farmers whose financial condition severed due to the lower sales realisation on bumper production of foodgrains, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton and horticulture crops. As per the scheme, the government will transfer the first instalment (Rs 2,000) from the fiscal year itself, and the amount is to be deposited in farmers’ bank accounts before March-end. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Announced in Budget 2019: Rs 6,000 Per Year to be Given as Minimum Income Support To Farmers In Bank Accounts. 

Also, the Union Agricultural Ministry has in its statement informed that the amount would be deposited in the farmers’ bank accounts through direct bank transfer. However, it didn’t clarify the number of farmers who will get their first instalment on Sunday

In the first phase, one crore farmers from 14 states, including UP and Karnataka, will get their first instalment on Sunday. While another one crore beneficiaries, spread over 28 states and one UT, would get their instalment of Rs 2,000 in the next 2-3 days, said the official.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2019 01:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).