The Congress party has been trying to escalate violence in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, where five farmers were “killed in police firing” on June 6, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said in Coimbatore on Friday.
“Congress, Left parties and their allies who were responsible for the agrarian crisis in the country are politicising the issue. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the State was doing its best to control violence.
“Besides announcing compensation to the families of the farmers killed, the Government had transferred the officials and also ordered judicial inquiry. But the Congress was jumping the gun and its leader was attempting for a photo opportunity for political gain.
“Where was Rahul Gandhi when the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh was responsible for firing at farmers, killing 24 and injuring over 150 in 1998 in Betul district,” the Minister asked.
Mr. Naidu said “The Narendra Modi government was trying to undo the damage done to agriculture by the Congress government in the last 50 years. It was taking short and long term measures by announcing ₹ 50,000 crore for agriculture, crop insurance coverage at the lowest premium possible and allocating ₹ 10 lakh crore for rural credit.
“The Chouhan government in MP was also doing well in agriculture as the State had consistently achieved 20 per cent growth in agriculture for the past five years. It had waived off the ₹4,500 crore the State farmers owed to the state electricity board and offered interest subvention for farmers who repaid farm loans in time.
“But the Opposition parties indulged in only false propaganda. It did the same until the Kerala High Court asked where was the ban on beef/cow slaughter. It was completely in disarray,” he added.
In response to a question on Presidential election, Mr. Naidu said “the National Democratic Alliance was for consensus. If the Opposition were to agree to it, the nominee would be unanimous. If not, the NDA had the numbers and it had the support of well-meaning parties as well to ensure victory.”
He denied allegations that the BJP was behind the split in AIADMK.
