New Delhi, July 25 (UNI) The entire Opposition, including the Congress, on Thursday accused the government in the Rajya Sabha of cheating the farmers and collecting Rs 70,000 per acre as tax from them.
Congress member Randeep Singh Surjewala, while resuming the general discussion on Union Budget 2024-25, said “This is a “Kursi Bachao” or (save the chair) budget. No attention has been paid to farmers, poor and youth in this budget.
The government has lathicharged the ‘Annadata’ (farmers) and kicked them in the stomach. Farmers are being cheated. Government is snatching livelihood through this budget. The promise made by the government to farmers has not been fulfilled. Farmers’ income has not doubled and they are not being given Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce”.
He further added that the farmers were not being given the 50 percent MSP of the cost. Quoting various data, he said that MSP was not being given for crops like maize, millet, jowar, soybean, groundnut and others. Surjewala claimed that the government is not giving proper MSP for any crop.
The Congress member said that the government is not saying a single word on loan waiver of farmers while industrialists are being given a chance to earn profits. Adding that the government is not purchasing the entire produce at MSP, due to which farmers are facing losses.
He said that only big things have been said in the budget. The entire budget of last year has not been spent.
Referring to various welfare schemes, Surjewala said that farmers are not being given their rights. In many schemes, up to 50 percent of the total allocation has not been spent. About 37 percent farmers are deprived of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Their number is 5.17 crore.
The Congress MP said that the government has taken out five kilograms from the 50 kilogram urea bag.
Raising objection to Surjewala’s allegation, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Congress members are misleading the house and giving wrong information. He has been the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers in the previous government.
Surjewala alleged that the cost of agriculture for farmers is increasing and the government is charging them Rs 70,000 per acre.
He said that up to 12 percent GST is being collected on agricultural inputs. “Naam bade darshan Chote” (much ado about nothing) is perfect for the government. He said that imports of oil and pulses are increasing. The government is giving wrong figures in the budget.
The Congress member said that the government has deceived the poor also. There is a provision to give five kilograms of food grains. This is the legal system. Only 13 rupees 75 paise are being given to the poor under the Garib Kalyan Yojana.
