BHUBANESWAR: Describing the Narendra Modi Government as anti-farmer, Congress on Monday hit out at the Centre for favouring industrialists by waiving loans of `1.54 lakh crore while farmers are committing suicide under loan burden.
Criticising the Centre for falsely propagating its success story through Whatsapp, Twitter and Facebook, spokesperson of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Ajay Kumar wanted to know on what basis the Modi Government is going to celebrate its three years completion.
Alleging that Modi has not fulfilled any of the announcements made for farmers before coming to power at the Centre three years back, Ajay Kumar said because of the Government’s neglect, as many as 35 farmers are taking their lives every day. While the Centre is busy publicising its success, the number of farmers who committed suicide increased from 12,360 in 2014 to 14,000 in 2016, he said.
Stating that the agriculture sector has suffered due to the Centre’s neglect, the Congress leader said export of wheat from the country has gone down by half while import has increased.
President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee Prasad Harichandan criticised both the Centre and the State Government for their anti-farmer policies. Harichandan alleged that though PM Modi and CM Naveen Patnaik had announced several measures for farmers by holding separate public meetings in Bargarh district last year, none of the promises has been kept.