PM’s Mann Ki Baat draws mixed reactions from NCR farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ address to farmers on Sunday, drew mix reactions from various corners of Delhi-NCR. Majority of farmers expressed their dissatisfaction over Modi’s address to the farmers.

Although the farmers said that the Prime Minister took a good initiative by communicating directly with them and giving them alternatives for improving their yield, they were expecting some announcement in their favour. Regarding the Land Acquisition Bill, farmers said that the Prime Minister failed to touch upon key factors.

The farmers said that unprecedented rain has damaged standing crops and new crops are also in danger due to water-logging in fields. The farmers have lost their entire capital and were expecting some relief from the Mann ki Baat session but now they are feeling cheated as the PM avoided the issue altogether.

 “We were hopeful that Narendra Modi will ensure relief by announcing some packages but unfortunately he avoided it completely. If Modi is really concerned about the farmers’ plight, he should ensure direct help with immediate effect,” said Dushyant Naagar, a farmers’ right activist and convener of Kisan Sangarsh Samiti.

Another farmer leader, who had struggled in the Bhatta Parsual earlier, said that it’s paradoxical that the PM is organising Maan ki Baat for farmers’ welfare on one side and on the other, he is introducing the Land Acquisition Bill to acquire farmers’ lands forcibly.

“The PM is talking about farmers’ plight and at the same time, the government is changing land rules through Ordinance. The PM’s address to farmers is eyewash as the entire discussion was far away from ground reality,” said Virendra Dadha, adding that if the government fails to address actual issues, they will intensify their ongoing strike in Bhatta Parsaul.

The BKU members, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for last five days, also declared Mann ki Baat as eyewash. The farmers, sitting at ‘Dharna’ in the Capital, said that they were anticipating a roll back of Land Acquisition, but were left in despair post the Sunday address on radio. 

“The Prime Minister has misled the farmers. During his address neither he revealed road map for farmers growth nor announced package for farmers who have suffered due unexpected rain. The farmers are in crisis but the PM failed to heal them,” said Dharmendra Malik, national spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union.