New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday saw a heated discussion on the plight of farmers with the Opposition accusing the government of being insensitive towards farmers’ issues, even as it sought loan waiver, better minimum support price and criminal cases against those responsible for death of farmers during the agitation in Madhya Pradesh recently.
Initiating the discussion, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said the plight of farmers has worsened with suicides increasing under the present government. “This government is not sensitive towards the issues of farmers. PM Narendra Modi immediately tweets at global disasters but he has not tweeted anything on the killings of farmers in Mandsaur,” he said, adding that even the agriculture minister has not visited Mandsaur “as he was busy doing yoga with Ramdev baba”.
Saying that the despondency has set in across the country, the Congress leader said the BJP had promised to double farmers’ income and implement Swaminathan recommendations in its election manifesto, but is not doing anything.
This government came to power with the support of farmers’ votes but now, they are suppressing them, Mr Scindia said.
Intervening in the discussion, parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said Mr Scindia should authenticate whatever he was alleging before the House. Otherwise, those remarks should be expun-ged, he urged the Chair.
BJP MP from Bhadohi (UP) Vijendra Singh demanded for a special session of Parliament to discuss all the issues related with farmers.
Intervening, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said: “One day, I would organise such a session... We are politicians. We know about the issues of farmers.”
Suggesting ways to help farmers get better prices of perishable items, Mr Singh said such produce can be supplied to defence and paramilitary forces.
Talking about the M.S. Swaminathan report, he said: “Swaminathan is not ‘Bramha’ (God). As a farmer, I too have not agreed to all his recommendations. Farm loan waiver is not a permanent solution. We need to find ways so that farmers can not become indebtors.”
Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) said that farmer killing and suicides have become a national issue today. “Of all suicides in India, 11.2 per cent are farmers suicide,” Mr Banerjee said.
“There is an unrest through out the country... Promises made for farmers should be fulfilled,” BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab said. he said, adding farmers are feeling cheated and betrayed after demonetisation.
During the Zero Hour, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, known for his tough stand on China, said China was ready to attack India in collaboration with Pakistan and asked the government to reverse its stand on the Tibet issue. Yadav said Chinese military personnel have been seen in Pakistani military facilities in Pak-occupied-Kashmir and China was also building roads there. It must be opposed at the diplomatic level, he said. “India is today facing a big danger from China. I have been cautioning central governments for many years. None of them paid adequate attention. China has joined hands with Pakistan. It has made full preparation to attack India,” he said.
“China is India’s biggest opponent. What has the government done? In Kashmir, the Chinese army has allied with the Pak army,” said Yadav adding that China had buried nuclear weapons in Pakistan to target India, also pointing out that Indian intelligence agencies “would know better”.
