Congress MP Criticizes Modi Government's Agricultural Policies

Senior Congress MP Randeep Surjewala lambasted the Modi government, calling its promise to double farmers' income by 2022 a 'jumla'. He criticized the government for reducing budget allocations for agriculture and labeled the PM Fasal Bima Yojna as a 'profiteering' scheme for insurance companies.

Senior Congress MP Randeep Surjewala on Thursday lambasted the Modi government, alleging that its promise to double farmers' income by 2022 has turned out to be a 'jumla'. He stated that farmers' earnings have actually decreased.

During a discussion on the agriculture ministry's workings in the Rajya Sabha, Surjewala claimed that the central government, despite its assertions, did not spend Rs 1 lakh crore in the last five years, instead surrendering the amount. Furthermore, he pointed out that the latest Union Budget has cut allocations for various agricultural sectors including fertilizers and dairy.

Surjewala also criticized the PM Fasal Bima Yojna, stating that between 2016-17 and June 30, 2024, farmers paid premiums of Rs 2,29,789 crore while insurance companies made Rs 63,648 crore in profits. He underscored this as a 'profiteering' scheme for insurers. He lamented the suicides of more than one lakh farmers over the past decade, blaming the Modi regime for failing to fulfill promises like implementing a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP).