Opposition Congress and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are at loggerheads over farmers’ plight in State of Chhattisgarh. On one hand the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC) Chief Bhupesh Baghel led a farmer’s Jan Sankalpa rally in Rajnandgaon, the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Brijmohan Agrawal has rejected the charges of opposition parties that there was distress among farmers over Government apathy.
Baghel reiterated before the farmers assembled in Rajnandgaon that if they come to power their loan would be waived off and power bill would be charged half as per the declaration of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Chief Rahul Gandhi in the public meetings held in the state recently.
On other hand addressing media persons here at New Circuit House on Thursday evening Agrawal countering Baghel charged opposition Congress for politicking on farmers issue and misguiding them.
“The agitation being done are not of common farmers but are of farmers associations associated with the political party”, he said.
“Farmers in the State are happier than other parts of the State and despite drought condition prevailing in the State in past couple of years. They are satisfied with the condition they are in”, he said.
Regarding Government’s assistance, he informed that a total assistance of Rs 3700 crore has been provided to farmers in previous Kharif season apart from the premium amount for crop insurance of Rs 127.96 crore has been distributed to them, he informed.
Agrawal also refuted the charges of increase in cases of farmer’s suicide in state. “None of them had committed suicide due to agriculture debt they have taken their lives for the personal reasons, he said. In comparison to other professions the ratio of farmer’s suicide is lesser, he further claimed.
Regarding upcoming Kharif season the minister said that the department was well prepared with seeds and fertilizers and there was no shortage of them to supply to the farmers of state.
Replying to a query that farmers are not getting the seeds of the variety they want, Brijmohan said that the department was providing them a replacement of them and it is not a matter of concern as the Government procures the paddy on minimum support price without considering the variety they have sown.