Rahul Gandhi takes on PM Modi over farmers' issues

NEW DELHI: Back from a tour of Punjab's mandis, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi ​ in Lok Sabha and accused his policies for turning a blind eye towards farmers and blamed it for their plight.

READ ALSO: Rahul travels in general class to meet farmers

"While farmers in the mandis are crying, the Haryana Agriculture Minister is saying farmers committing suicide are cowards", Rahul said amid cries of "shame, shame" from the opposition.

READ ALSO: Farmers who commit suicide are 'criminals', says Haryana minister

In his speech laden with sarcasm, Rahul targeted the Prime Minister for being ignorant to apathy of farmers. "The PM is visiting India, let him also visit Punjab and see the situation for himself," he said.

The Congress vice-president accused the government of not procuring the the produce of farmers.

(Rahul Gandhi during his visit to a mandi in Punjab's Khanna district on Tuesday. AP Photo)

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Gandhi said he wanted to apprise the House of the pain and problems of the Punjab farmer whose produce is lying in Mandis and is not being procured by the government.

Amid protests from BJP benches, Gandhi also took a swipe at the Prime Minister's 'Make in India' initiative, questioning whether farmers are not contributing to 'Make in India' by providing food to the entire country.

"When there was hailstorm, the government did not help. State governments used to give bonus, farmers tolerated its non-payment. Farmers were lathicharged when they asked for fertilizers. Now their produce is not being lifted from mandis", said Gandhi who visited mandis in Punjab on Tuesday. "No one works harder for the country than the farmers. Punjab farmers provide food to the entire country.I understand the pain of farmers and listened to their voice," he said.

Meanwhile, Union minister Ramvilas Paswan rejected Rahul Gandhi's charges, insisting that the government under the leadership of Modi had taken several decisions for the welfare of farmers which had not happened in the past 10 years of the UPA.

READ ALSO: Gajendra from Rajasthan, but worst hit by farmers' suicides is Maharashtra

Contending that the Prime Minister is not only concerned about the welfare of farmers, Paswan said he has proactively taken several steps to help the farmers hit hard by unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

There was uproar over the issue, leading to adjournment of the House for 10 minutes.

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