Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 23: Highlighting the miserable plight of the farmers of the country due to nature’s fury and anti-farmer policies of the NDA Government, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad today urged the BJP to give its misconceived policy of pushing the farmers to the corner.
While initiating the discussion in Rajya Sabha on the farmers’ suicides and agrarian crisis after the Chairman agreed to his demand to suspend the business to enable the House to discuss the emergent issue, Azad said said that farmers are the backbone of the country and they need to be reassured by the Central Government about their welfare and social security.
Expressing concern over the rising incidents of farmer suicides in various parts of the country, Azad called upon the Government to take concrete steps to arrest the situation and restore their confidence in the system.
“There is visible disappointment and frustration amongst the farmers and there is a fear of unrest and social breakdown”, said Azad.
Appreciating the farmers of the country for turning India into a food-surplus country, Azad said it is due to their unstinted labour and persistent hard work of citizen of this country. “When the population of the country was 32 crores, we were importing the food-grains and today when the population has risen to 125 crores, we are not only catering to our own needs, but exporting huge quantity of food grains”, remarked Azad adding that this is outcome of the visionary policies pursued by the successive Congress Prime Ministers.
Reacting sharply to the uncalled for jibe of the Prime Minister, Azad said instead of making inappropriate comments in a foreign country, Prime Minister should fulfill his electoral promise of bringing an end to the farmer’s suicides.
“What we are witnessing is a sharp spurt in the farmer’s suicide ever since the NDA Government has taken over, and this is solely due to the anti-farmer policies and stance of the Modi Government”, Azad said.
He further said it was unheard of that farmers of Haryana, Western UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, etc would commit suicides, but today the country of facing worst agrarian crisis under NDA Government. “This Government needs to re-visit its approach towards agrarian sector”, said Azad.
Drawing the attention of the Government towards the unprecedented situation faced by the farmers due to unseasonal rains, snowfall, hailstorm and winds, Azad said that wheat, paddy, vegetables and fruits crops from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Sikkim to Gujarat are badly ravaged and it is incumbent upon the Government to adequately compensate the affected farmers.
Referring to the unfortunate and painful incident of suicide by a farmer in full public glare at a public meeting, Azad took potshots at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his alleged insensitivity and callousness to prevent the hapless farmer in front of his hundreds of party workers from committing suicide.
Azad also questioned the role of Delhi Police who were present at the spot in adequate numbers and called upon the Home Minister to take stringent action against Delhi Police personnel for their alleged laxity and inaction.
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