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Urge farmers to join crop insurance: PM

The Shiv Sena claimed that they were not informed about the NDA meeting, saying there was some ‘communication gap’.

The Shiv Sena claimed that they were not informed about the NDA meeting, saying there was some ‘communication gap’.

Asking NDA MPs to bring maximum farmers under the Central government’s new crop insurance policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the ruling alliance leaders to take it as a challenge in their constituencies. With the Budget underlining the NDA government’s rural pitch, Mr Modi asked MPs to work towards taking the benefit of newly-announced “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana” to farmers.

At the NDA meeting, which was skipped by ally Shiv Sena, finance minister Arun Jaitley also asserted that the crop insurance policy will address agriculture distress.

The Shiv Sena claimed that they were not informed about the meeting, saying there was some “communication gap”. The meeting also saw HRD minister Smriti Irani being praised for her “spirited reply” in the two Houses on Rohith Vemula issue, with members supporting her by thumping their desks.

Mr Jaitley also spoke in detail about the Budget, underscoring that it also seeks to give a fillip to economic growth by improving infrastructure and business and the investment climate. He told the MPs that the government was making all out efforts to create an “insured and pensioned” society and highlighted steps like health insurance and life cover announced for the masses.

The NDA feels that the Budget will help them blunt the Opposition’s charge that the government has an “anti-farmer” bias at a time when the Assembly elections are due in five states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal, in April-May. Crucial UP election is scheduled for next year. BJP president Amit Shah, who was also present, lauded the Budget for its pro-farmer and pro-village thrust.

Parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu gave an account of developments in JNU and Hyderabad Central University and urged the members to counter the Opposition’s charges. Mr Naidu said the Prime Minister will reply to the discussion on Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He also made a presentation on various schemes related to farm sector, financial inclusion, social security, crop insurance, Mudra Bank, Make in India, empowerment of dalits, women, youth and rural development, sources said.

Referring to the Opposition’s criticism that a large number of accounts opened under “Jan Dhan Yojana” were empty, he said 20.72 crore accounts were opened, of which over 10 crore accounts are in the name of women. They have a total deposits of Rs 33,379 crore, he was quoted as saying by sources.

MoS, parliamentary affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the “MPs were very enthusiastic about the Budget as it will empower villages, farmers and youth. It is dedicated to them and all-round development of the country. India has always been called an agrarian country but this is the first time the Budget is being dedicated to the farm sector.”

Asked about the Opposition’s notice for privilege motion against Ms Irani, he said BJP members had also brought privilege motion against some Opposition members.

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