In Punjab, Modi tears into Cong for ignoring farmers

Chandigarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to farmers while addressing a “thanksgiving” rally in Punjab on Wednesday. Saluting the hard work of farmers, Prime Minister said that farmers should have been uplifted by now.

“The farmer should have been the first to be uplifted. But for decades, you were ignored by the party that ruled India since Independence,” he said, taking a dig at the Congress.

The “thanksgiving rally” in Muktsar  was organised by the BJP and ally Akali Dal to mark the recent hike in minimum support price for 14 Khariff crops. “Our farmer brothers can now breathe easy... they can earn better... they can sleep peacefully... because of the MSP increase,” the  Prime Minister said.

But this, he said, will give sleepless nights to the Congress. “They never thought we could make this happen. No one in the Congress is daring to come out and speak, because they know that did nothing for  years”.

Indicating more relief for cotton farmers, PM Modi in Punjabi remarked, “Narme nu narm nahi rehn dena, takkda karna hai” (we will not slackness in initiating measures for farmers).

Taking potshots at the Amarinder government, Modi asked people why the state lagged behind in developmental parameters in the recent world bank’s report, while Haryana, under the BJP rule, stood third in the country.

The Prime Minister said: “In the last 70 years, most of the times the Congress, which our farmers placed their faith in did not recognize their hard work. Only promises were made to them”.

He said, “Ever since the BJP government took the historic MSP hike decision, the farmers are relieved. A big worry is gone. They are more confident of their produce now.”

He said that the government was working towards increasing farmers’ income. He told the farmers not to burn agricultural residue as it added to pollution.