Underscoring the significance of dialogue in addressing farmers’ concerns, Union Minister Anurag Thakur expressed the government’s willingness for discussions, acknowledging farmers as the nation’s ‘Annadatas’ (food providers). Thakur criticized the UPA government, contending that the Modi-led government has allocated more funds for farmers compared to the UPA’s expenditure during its tenure.
Thakur highlighted the government’s initiatives to curb the increase in fertilizer and urea costs for farmers, providing subsidies totaling Rs 3 lakh crore. He spotlighted the introduction of Nano Urea and emphasized that the Modi government has allocated Rs 18 lakh 39 thousand crores for MSP, surpassing the UPA’s spending by more than 3.50 times.
Illustrating with examples, Thakur pointed out that the Modi government allocated more than Rs 55,000 crore for pulses, in contrast to the UPA’s Rs 1936 crore. He continued to critique the UPA, asserting that during their era, farmers lacked respect and adequate funding.
Thakur drew comparisons in spending on oilseeds, wheat, and compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana, underscoring the Modi government’s proactive measures compared to the UPA’s tenure. He stressed the government’s commitment to farmers and the establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under Modi’s leadership. Thakur highlighted various schemes and initiatives designed to support farmers and provide financial assistance