Azad urges PM to fulfil promise of bringing end to farmer suicides
‘Spurt in farmer suicides due to lack of trust on NDA govt’
5 Dariya News
Srinagar 23-Apr-2015
Highlighting the miserable plight of the farmers of the country due to nature’s fury and anti-farmer policies of the NDA government, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday urged the BJP to give its ‘misconceived policy’ of pushing the farmers to the corner.Azad initiated the discussion in Rajya Sabha on the farmer suicides and agrarian crisis yesterday after the Chairman agreed to his demand to suspend the business to enable the House to discuss the emergent issue.Speaking on the subject, Azad said that farmers are the backbone of the country and they need to be reassured by the Central Government about their welfare, social security and upliftment.Expressing concern over the rising incidents of farmer suicides in various parts of the country, Azad called upon the Government to take concrete steps to arrest the situation and restore their confidence in the system.
“There is visible disappointment and frustration amongst the farmers and there is a fear of unrest and social breakdown,” he said.Applauding the farmers of the country for turning India into a food-surplus country, Azad said it is due to their unstinted labour and persistent hard work no citizen of this country is facing starvation and hunger.“When the population of the country was 32 crores, we were importing the food grains and today when the population has risen to 125 crores, we are not only catering to our own needs, but exporting huge quantity of food grains,” remarked Azad adding that this is outcome of the visionary policies pursued by the successive Congress Prime Ministers from Pt Nehru till Dr Manmohan Singh.He especially mentioned about the foresight and wisdom of Indira Gandhi who played pivotal role in ushering ‘green revolution’ in the country.Reacting sharply to the uncalled for jibe of the Prime Minister, Azad said instead of making inappropriate comments in a foreign country, Prime Minister should fulfil his electoral promise of bringing an end to the farmer’s suicides.
“What we are witnessing is a sharp spurt in the farmer’s suicide ever since the NDA Government has taken over, and this is solely due to the anti-farmer policies and stance of the Modi government,” said Azad.He said it was unheard of that farmers of Haryana, Western UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, etc would commit suicides, but today the country of facing worst agrarian crisis under NDA Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“This Government needs to re-visit its approach towards agrarian sector”, said Azad.Azad said that by making inappropriate remarks, Prime Minister Narinder Modi is making an unsuccessful attempt to divert the attention of the people from his failures.Drawing the attention of the Government towards the unprecedented situation faced by the farmers due to unseasonal rains, snowfall, hailstorm and winds, Azad said that wheat, paddy, vegetables and fruits crops from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Sikkim to Gujarat are badly ravaged and it is incumbent upon the Government to adequately compensate the affected farmers without any delay.Urging the NDA government to abandon its anti-farmer policies, Azad demanded immediate rollback of the draconian land ordinance, waiver of debt, payment of adequate compensation for losses suffered and swift and full procurement of foodgrains by the Food Corporation of India.
Azad also asked the Central government to divulge the details of the funds sanctioned and released to the States for compensation to the farmers for the losses incurred by them as well as ex-gratia relief for the families of those farmers who committed suicides.Referring to the unfortunate and painful incident of suicide by a farmer in full public glare at a public meeting, Azad took potshots at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his alleged insensitivity and callousness to prevent the hapless farmer in front of his hundreds of party workers from committing suicide.He also questioned the role of Delhi Police who were present at the spot in adequate numbers and called upon the Home Minister to take stringent action against Delhi Police personnel for their alleged laxity and inaction.Launching an assault on BJP and AAP for playing politics over the dead body of a poor farmer, Azad said that both the parties stand exposed for their anti-farmer and opportunistic politics.