The war of words between the BJP and the Congress looks set to continue over the farmers’ issue. A day after the visit of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to Haryana’s Bhiwani district to meet the farmers, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Sunday termed the visit as “village tourism.” The outspoken Minister Vij, who is most prolific tweeple among Haryana Ministers, on Sunday posted on Twitter, “Sonia's visit to Haryana is only village tourism. Must have been feeling congestion after loss of Power.”
On the other hand, Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar targeted the BJP-led Haryana Government for failing to provide succor to the farmers, who suffered huge losses during recent heavy rains and hailstorm in the state. “Instead of waiting for the team of Central Government, Khattar Government should provide immediate relief to the farmers, Tanwar posted on Twitter.
The Congress has been focusing on farmers' issues of late, with the party aggressively opposing the land Acquisition Bill, which it has termed “anti-farmer”. Sonia Gandhi, during her visit to Bhiwani on Saturday had met the farmers whose crops were damaged in the recent unseasonal rains and had also promised her party's support to raise their concerns and demand for compensation against damaged crops. One after the other, Sonia’s convoy visited eight villages of the district before she appealed to the Government to provide immediate relief to the farmers.
The Manohar lal Khattar-led State Government has come under heavy criticism from the Opposition parties over the issue. During the ongoing Budget Session of Haryana Assembly, the Congress and INlD have time and again raised the issue demanding adequate compensation for the farmers. While the Congress wanted that the farmers be given a compensation of atleast Rs20,000 per acre for crop damage due to heavy rains, the main Opposition Indian National lok Dal demanded that atleast Rs25,000 per acre should be paid.
The leader of Opposition and INlD’s senior leader Abhay Chautala had earlier demanded that like Punjab, Haryana should also seek adequate compensation from the Centre. He had also alleged that the BJP had "gone back on its pre-poll promise of implementing the report of the Swaminathan Commission". Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar while speaking in the Haryana Assembly had earlier informed that the State Government is already taking steps to compensate the affected farmers. A Central team would evaluate the damage caused to the crops. The State Government has written a letter to the Central Government in this regard, seeking support, said he.
It was also informed that the inspection exercise to assess the loss is still going on in the State. The preliminary reports received by the State Government indicates that there has been heavy damage to crops in districts of Mewat, Palwal, Rewari and Narnaul and there are reports of damage in districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Jhajjar, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Sonipat and Hisar also.