Rs 1L cr farm budget surrendered: Congress

New Delhi, January 16

The Congress on Tuesday attacked the BJP-ruled Centre for “surrendering” more than Rs 1 lakh crore of agriculture budget over the last five years, pointing out that while the UPA government had increased the minimum support price (MSP) on all crops significantly, the current regime had failed to do so.

Calling the BJP “anti-farmer”, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda, at a press conference, maintained that the information on the Rs 1 lakh crore “surrender” was revealed in a standing committee report. “From 2014 to 2022, more than one lakh farmers died by suicide due to debt. While the UPA government waived Rs 72,000 crore worth of loans of farmers, the NDA regime hasn’t waived even a single rupee in its 10-year rule,” said Deepender.

He said 8 per cent of the wheat growers and 76 per cent of the paddy growers in the country were not getting MSP. “The wheat MSP went up by 119 per cent during the UPA government and a much lower 47 per cent during the BJP rule,” he said.