Farmers’ issue: Rahul takes on PM, Paswan hits back

Back from his Punjab trip, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the plight of farmers in the Lok Sabha. Gandhi accused the Centre of not procuring the produce of farmers, a charge that was flatly rejected by Union Minister of Consumer 

Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Gandhi said he wanted to apprise the House of the problems being faced by farmers in Punjab, whose produce is lying in mandis. “When there was hailstorm, the government did not help. State governments used to give bonus, farmers tolerated its non-payment. Farmers were lathi-charged when they asked for fertiliser. Now, their produce is not being lifted from mandis,” he said. “While farmers in mandis are crying, the Haryana Agriculture Minister is saying farmers committing suicide are cowards,” he added. Refuting Gandhi’s charges, Paswan claimed that the government, under Modi’s leadership, has taken several decisions for the welfare of farmers, which had not happened in the past 10 years of the UPA regime. 

He added the government has taken several steps to help farmers hit hard by unseasonal rain and hailstorm. 

The issue caused an uproar in the House, leading to its adjournment for 10 minutes.

Members of the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stormed into the Well of the House when Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur, who is also a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader, was allowed by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to speak after Gandhi’s plea for a fair deal to farmers in Punjab. 

“Where were you when farmers’ produce was being damaged in rain and hailstorm? You were away holidaying and have come back now to catch up with farmers by visiting Punjab. The Punjab government has already lifted majority of the farm produce. You should visit your own constituency Amethi first,” she said.