Cong attacks Modi for his 'blatant refusal' to compensate farmers

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what it claimed his "blatant refusal" to provide adequate compensation to farmers for damaged crops and alleged that it reaffirms the inherently ingrained "anti-farmer prejudice" of the government.

"This multi-pronged attack on the bread, butter and livelihood of India's farmer will not only lead to a drop in agricultural productivity for the first time after 10 years of Congress rule but has reaffirmed the universal slogan echoing in India's farm sector --'Kisan Virodhi ? Narendra Modi'," AICC communication department in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement here.

He said that untimely rains, hailstorms and high velocity winds have destroyed over 170 lakh hectares of Rabi crops in 14 states causing damage of over Rs 40,000 crore.

"Modi government's deplorable decision, as disclosed by Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya, expressing inability of the finance ministry to adequately compensate the farmers for damaged crops is a severe body blow to the farming community already reeling under severe distress.

"Coming as it does on the heels of the draconian Land Acquisition Ordinance yesterday, it reaffirms the inherently ingrained anti-farmer prejudice of Modi government," Surjewala said.

He said that equally shocking is the statement of Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh absolving the central government of responsibility to pay compensation by asking the states to first pay compensation to farmers from State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) and then use 'Contingency Funds' at the state level.

"This is a classic case of 'putting the cart before the bullock' and expression of a clear intent to not pay any compensation to farmers. Assertion of Vice-Chairman of Niti Aayog refusing to pay adequate compensation to farmers reaffirms the same.