Congress Leaders Challenge Agriculture Minister’s Claims
New Delhi, India – August 6
On Monday, Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Digvijaya Singh announced that they will file a privilege motion against Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Rajya Sabha. They accused Chouhan of misleading the House on various issues.
Allegations by Congress Leaders
During a press conference, Surjewala, a Congress general secretary, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed to provide farmers with a minimum support price (MSP) on input costs plus fifty percent. However, in a 2015 affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the BJP government said it was not possible. Surjewala questioned the truth behind these claims and challenged the assertion that farmers were receiving prices above the MSP for various crops.
Digvijaya Singh, a former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, disputed claims that only 7 lakh hectares of land were irrigated when he left office in 2003. He stated that 33 lakh hectares were irrigated in 1997-98. He also refuted claims that the Congress government had not provided any debt waivers to farmers, noting that the debt of 37 lakh farmers was waived off when Kamal Nath was Chief Minister.
Response from Agriculture Minister
Earlier in the day, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized opposition leaders in the Rajya Sabha for not prioritizing farmers. He highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, which provides Rs 6000 to small farmers, helping them become self-reliant and respected.
Doubts Revealed
Congress -: Congress is a major political party in India. It has been one of the oldest and most influential parties in the country.
Randeep Singh Surjewala -: Randeep Singh Surjewala is a politician from the Congress party. He often speaks on behalf of the party.
Digvijaya Singh -: Digvijaya Singh is another senior leader from the Congress party. He has held various important positions in the past.
Union Agriculture Minister -: The Union Agriculture Minister is a person in the Indian government responsible for farming and agriculture-related policies.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan -: Shivraj Singh Chouhan is a politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and currently serves as the Union Agriculture Minister.
Privilege motion -: A privilege motion is a special request made in Parliament when a member feels that their rights or the rules of the house have been violated.
Rajya Sabha -: Rajya Sabha is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament. It is also known as the Council of States.
Minimum Support Price (MSP) -: Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a guaranteed price set by the government to protect farmers from low market prices.
Irrigation statistics -: Irrigation statistics are numbers that show how much land is being watered for farming purposes.
Madhya Pradesh -: Madhya Pradesh is a state in central India. It is known for its rich history and agriculture.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme -: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is a government program that gives financial help to small farmers in India.