I feel very happy to be with you all. It is for two reasons. First, because this region excels in the development of agriculture in Madhya Pradesh and secondly, progressive farmers leadership here. We have to continue this tradition and carry it forward.

The Congress party has always worked for the betterment of farmers in Madhya Pradesh and the whole of India as well. We desire that the way you have contributed to the country's progress, the same way you and the villages should have your share in the fruits of development. I assure you that we will march shoulder to shoulder for this purpose. No power in the world can diminish this relationship of ours.

The whole country knows that after independence, whatever progress the farmers have made, whatever development the villages have witnessed, is all due to the Congress party. Inspired by Gandhiji, our farsighted leaders had realised that India's key for development lay in the development of villages. Therefore, leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajivji, who on the one hand pursued the development of industry and modern technique and on the other paid special attention to agricultural progress in the five year plans. It is the endeavour of our farmers that the godowns of the country are full of foodgrains. I am aware that due to the wrong policies of the present Central Government, the farmers are suffering as never before. We have always raised your issues inside Parliament and outside as well and will continue to do so in the future. I would like to say to the Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijay Singh, that no stone should be left unturned in the process of your welfare.

Many districts of Madhya Pradesh have experienced meagre rainfall this year. It is a drought-like situation there. The State Government is trying to cope with the situation. I want to say to the Central Government that it should provide all possible cooperation and assistance to the Congress Government of Madhya Pradesh.

To solve any problem it is necessary to consider it as a challenge and then face it. For us famine is one such problem. Our state government has made a beginning through Rajiv Gandhi Water Mission. Other states are looking forward to it. But we will only be able to find a permanent solution to this problem when we give it a shape of mass movement. In different parts of the country the ground water level is decreasing. At many places people are deprived of drinking water. We have to adopt measures to stop the depleting ground water level. Today, everyone wants ground water but no one is concerned about mother earth getting it. Our ancestors used to collect water in small and big ponds. It provided water for irrigation and satiated the thirst of earth as well. The ground water never dipped below a certain level. We have to pay special attention to it. My suggestion is to give it a shape of mass-movement and link every citizen with it. If we are successful, it will serve the coming generations well. I call upon every Congress worker to get into the act without delay and make the people aware. I have been told that the farmers of Mandsaur, Neemuch and Ratlam have come forward in this direction. I congratulate them.

I have just told you that country's godowns are full of foodgrains. This is only due to your efforts. The Central Government should work this to your advantage. The excess foodgrain can be used for water-storage programme. 'Foodgrain for work' schemes should be launched to dig ponds. It will provide food as well as work to the poor and at the same time the menace of famine could also be averted. The village panchayats should seriously pursue this task.

Agriculture is the foundation of our economy. By ignoring the farmers, the economic policies will never be successful, poverty cannot be alleviated. In the rural areas agro-based industries have to be encouraged. With your help, whenever a Congress government is formed at the Centre, we will put special emphasis on this.

Many people in this area have attained employment in powerloom industry. They too are facing certain problems. They should be looked into. Our state government will do whatever it can. Now a days, the life of the common man bothers me the most. The prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene have been increased repeatedly. It affects every important aspect of daily life.

The economic policies of the Central Government are failing one after the other. There is no coordination between the constituent parties. The truth is that no one is happy with nobody. Everyone is treading their own path. For the lust of power they are sticking together. Even the sisterly organisations of the BJP criticise the government on any sundry issue every other day. Inspite of this they have assembled to share power and are cheating this great country.

The twentieth century is coming to an end. This century will be etched in history as the century of our freedom struggle and the role of Congress party in it. You know that under the leadership of great leaders like Gandhiji, Panditji, Sardar Patel and Maulana Kalam Azad the torch of freedom was lit in every village. If the farmers of the nation had not contributed, it could have delayed country's freedom. In those days the villages may have lacked in education, but in consciousness and awareness they never lagged behind. Every farmer was high in spirits. We should never forget this.

For this reason I request you all to once again stand up to build a new India. We should foil the attempts of those who are spreading the venom of hatred in society. We have to put down this snake of communalism and casteism. We have to make society free of the epidemic of corruption. I am with you in this struggle.