Slamming PPCC president and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar for his attack on the Prime Minister and the BJP-led Union Government, BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh has asked Jakhar why did he not utter a single word regarding farmer suicides in Punjab.Questioning Jakhar's silence on the issue of betrayal of farmers by Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government during his maiden speech in Lok Sabha, Chugh said Gurdaspur MP's speech was nothing short of adding insult to injury.Chugh reminded Jakhar that Congress came to power on the basis of false promises of waiving off 90,000 crore of farm loan. Speaking on farmers' issue in the Parliament could be a welcome step but ignoring the betrayal of Congress government in Punjab and the rising number of farmer suicides has exposed the shallowness of Congress as a party and Jakhar as a leader.The BJP leader reminded Jakhar that more than 300 farmers have committed suicides since Congress came to power in the state as the farmers were feeling cheated and disappointed due to false promises which were unlikely to be honoured.
He said that Jakhar should have checked facts before speaking on the subject. Chugh said that keeping in view the promises made, the Modi government had taken concrete steps to double the income of farmers. He reminded Jakhar that the UPA government allocated Rs. 1,21,082 crore as Agriculture Budget from the year 2009 to 2014 while the Modi government has till now made budgetary provisions to the tune of Rs.2,11,694- crore which is 74.5% more as compared to Dr. Manmohan Singh's government.He said the BJP-led government has announced and initiated steps to implement the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.Asking Jakhar to concentrate on the plight of farmers of Punjab and urge his party's government to do something to stop farmer suicides, Chugh said the Modi government has allocated Rs. 13,748 crore more than the last UPA government under various heads which include crop insurance, irrigation, soil testing, farm implements, dairy development and others.Chugh said Modi government has also made a budgetary provision of Rs.500-crore for 'Operation Green' which was brought to directly benefit farmers growing potatoes, tomatoes and onion.