Budget fails to address farmers’ grievances: Cong MP Dharamvira

Congress MP Dharamvira Gandhi criticised the Centre for allegedly failing to provide incentives to farmers and reducing allocations for social sector schemes, describing the Union Budget as a unilateral exercise. Speaking on Friday, the Congress MP noted that the Budget discussion made only a cursory mention of the plight of roughly 100 Indian illegal immigrants who were deported from the United States in chains and handcuffs.

Proceedings halted for 10 minutes

• The Opposition stalled LS proceedings for about 10 minutes on Friday, demanding Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s presence during the Budget discussion, as she was initially absent from the lower house.
• After a brief altercation between the treasury and opposition benches, Sitharaman eventually entered the House, at which point the discussion commenced

In contrast, Samajwadi Party MP Shivpal Singh Patel used the Budget debate to accuse the Centre of remaining a mute spectator to the mistreatment of immigrants — a move he described as a national humiliation.

The Congress MP, who initiated the discussion on the Budget, stressed that although India is a union of states, the states were not consulted during the budget-making process. He argued that the exercise was dominated by the Centre.

Focusing on agriculture, small businesses, education and health, he claimed that the Budget neglected the farming sector by not announcing any loan waiver or insurance scheme for farmers. “It failed to address the grievances of the farmers,” he said, adding that the government’s misplaced priorities had led to the closure of MSME units across the country.

He further pointed out that even though half the country depends on agriculture, the Budget did not address farmers’ interests — even as many continue to protest and demand a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP). “Due to the lack of industrial growth, those leaving agriculture are unable to secure jobs, forcing our sons and daughters to seek opportunities abroad. There, they face humiliation, as evidenced by the manner in which these immigrants were returned by US authorities in chains and handcuffs,” he added.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP from Pratapgarh Shivpal Singh Patel attacked the government for its silence over the treatment of deported immigrants. Patel also referenced Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control in the Galwan Valley, claiming that while China has seized Indian land and killed Indian troops, the government has remained silent.