On Monday, in Rajya Sabha, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan fiercely targeted the Congress party over the suicide of farmers. Shivraj Singh Chauhan lashed out at the opposition and said that I had said that if you tease me, I will not spare you. He said that when Congress was in power in different states, farmers were killed. Digvijay Singh is sitting in front of them, his hands are stained with blood. 24-24 farmers were killed.
The functioning of the Agriculture Ministry was discussed in the Rajya Sabha. Continuing his reply which was left incomplete during the discussion on Friday, Agriculture Minister Chauhan said that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi has not only empowered small and marginal farmers but has also increased their respect.
While Chouhan was answering, Congress’ Randeep Singh Surjewala tried to interrupt him several times and accused the BJP government of firing on farmers. The Agriculture Minister said, “I had already said that do not tease me. If you tease me, I will not leave you.” He cited various incidents of firing on farmers during the rule of various Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh, including the rule of former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, while counting the incidents of firing during the Congress rule in the House, said that in 1986 when the Congress government was in power in Bihar, 23 farmers were killed in firing. In 1988, firing was done on Indira Gandhi’s death anniversary in Delhi, in which two farmers were killed. In the same year 1988, firing was done on farmers in Meerut and 5 farmers were killed. On 23 August 1995, their government opened fire in Haryana, in which 6 farmers were killed. On 19 January 1998, farmers were fired upon in Multai, Madhya Pradesh, Congress was in power, 24 farmers were killed.
Targeting the Congress, he said that we were discussing the Kisan Samman Nidhi. Congress talked about direct help to farmers, but Congress never made a scheme like ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi’. This scheme was made by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They (opposition) will not understand, but the amount of Rs 6,000 matters for small farmers. Due to this ‘Kisan Samman Nidhi’, farmers have become self-reliant, farmers have also become empowered and the respect of farmers has also increased. The opposition is not able to see the respect of farmers.
Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that when I became the Agriculture Minister, I felt that I should read the speeches of all the Prime Ministers who have been elected in the country till date. The most important speech is the one on 15 August from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I heard what each Prime Minister said for the farmers, today I am revealing this fact with sadness that when I read those speeches, I was surprised, the priority of the Congress is not the farmer, I respect late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji, but I read all his speeches of 15 August. Not even once did he mention the name of the farmer in 1947. Once in 1948, once in 1949, not even once in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, the word farmer did not come in his speech even once. This is the priority of the Congress.
Tags: budget session, Rajya Sabha, Shivraj Singh Chauhan
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 5, 2024, 16:09 IST
