Unai, Gujarat:
Gujarat Chief Minister today took a dig at Janata Dal(United) or JD(U) leader and his counterpart in Bihar, Nitish Kumar, when he said that nobody complains when political parties use Osama bin Laden lookalikes during election campaigns in Bihar, but have problems if he takes out a rally.
"Parties used an Osama bin Laden duplicate during the campaigning in Bihar elections and everybody remained silent. Now, when I am taking out a rally in the name of Vivekananda, what is their problem?" he said.
Mr Modi's present campaign tour has been named 'Swami Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra'.
Under attack over alleged inaction on the issue of farmers suicide in poll-bound Gujarat, Mr Modi today announced waiver of Rs 300 crore interest on crop loans and a rebate in power for drought-hit farmers.
Focussing on issues concerning the state on the second day of his month-long 'yatra', Mr Modi at the same time continued his attack on the Congress on the coal scandal, dubbing All India Congress Committee (AICC) as "All India Coal Congress."
On sops to farmers, Mr Modi said, "It has been decided that interest on the crop loans taken by farmers, hit by the drought like conditions, shall be borne by the state government, which would be around Rs 300 crore."
"The government has also decided to give 50 per cent relief in the electricity bills of such farmers," Mr Modi told newsmen on the sidelines of his Yatra.
"It's also the responsibility of state government to be concerned about farmers who are facing hardships, on account of drought like situation prevailing in Gujarat, earlier," Mr Modi said.
Hit by crop failure, several farmers mainly from Saurashtra region had committed suicide.
Opposition Congress has made farmers suicide a major issue ahead of the polls in Gujarat, accusing the ruling BJP government of inaction.