Taking advantage of the prevailing issues faced by farmers in the country, Opposition party — Indian National Congress — on Tuesday said it will begin a three-day protest from Friday seeking debt waiver for farmers. The party alleged that the ruling BJP government in the state has failed to solve farmers' problems and that despite the Centre's announcement of buying cotton and groundnut at Minimum Support Price (MSP), the state government has made no efforts to ensure that farmers get the related benefit.
"If the party is serious about solving problems of farmers, the central government and Gujarat government should waive off debt, as did the UP government," said Paresh Dhanani, leader of Opposition in Gujarat Legislative Assembly.
Protests at taluka level and dharnas will be held on June 8, followed by fasts on the last day. "Dharna, jail-bharo andolan and thali-belan protests will be held across the state. The government is misguiding people for about two decades now and in spite of extravagant Krushi Mahotsav, none of the problems of farmers are being addressed to," said Dhanani.
Dhanani alleged that successive BJP governments in the state have failed to create new irrigation potential for farmers. "When BJP came to throne in Gujarat in 1995, there were 215 big and medium dams, but since then only 18 new dams have been built. Whatever farm ponds have been constructed are marred with corruption. Even the canal network of Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam has not been constructed depriving farmers of much needed water, leaving them at nature's mercy. Over 75 lakh hectare land is unirrigated," said Dhanani.
OPPOSITION SPEAKS
- Dhanani alleged that successive BJP governments in the state have failed to create new irrigation potential for farmers.
- Dhanani said that BJP government, while bragging about farm mechanisation is rejecting farmers’ application to buy tractors
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