Accusing that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh is anti-farmer, State Congress president Arun Yadav has said that instead of proceeding to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the State, the State Government should first seek adequate compensation from the Centre for the peasants.
Crop damage has been to the tune of `22,000 crore. The Centre has approved only `2,033 cr as compensation. It is equivalent to oont ke muh mein jeera (a drop in the ocean), Yadav told reporters here.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Sherpur village in Sehore district for taking part in a Kisan Sammelan during which he will be felicitated. Is the felicitation justified under such circumstancesIJ he asked.
Besides, the Revenue Department had sent a proposal to the Centre for distribution of `4,239.39 crore as compensation. later, an additional compensation of `900 crore was sought following the inclusion of more tehsils, said Mr Yadav.
He demanded Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to first bring adequate compensation from New Delhi for being distributed to debt-ridden peasants prior to the event.
Yadav said the state government has decided to provide `500 each to peasants for participating in the Kisan Sammelan. He said the regime is spending `25 crore to bring peasants to the programme and around `100 crore in organising the event.
He demanded that the BJP provide `5,000 to each farmer participating in the event. He also alleged that the ruling dispensation has managed to bag Krishi Karman Award for the fourth consecutive time by manipulating figures. He questioned the rationale of the award at a time when crops have been damaged and peasants have been deprived of compensation.
In the past 12 years, more than 29,000 farmers committed suicide. likewise, 2,230 farmers took their own lives in the past seven months, Yadav added.