Speech

Justice to Farmers : Sonia Gandhi

I Congratulate the people of Rajasthan that a beginning has been made for an important programme of providing water for irrigation and other facilities to the farmers. Water crisis is on the rise throughout the entire country but it is quite serious in Rajasthan. Most of the state is desert and the water level is constantly falling. There is acute shortage of drinking water. I understand that maximum efforts should be made to solve this problem. Nothing is more important than water in the life of a man, especially in the life of a farmer. Therefore, it is said water is life.

In our country, storing water is an age old tradition. Lakhs of small ponds, lakes, wells and deep wells raise the water level. For a long time, water has continuously been drawn from the ground but little attention is paid to preserve it. Drought and dry spells further complicated this problem. In this situation, it is necessary that a campaign should be launched in the country to maintain the water-level, the entire society should take care of it or this problem will take a serious turn in future. I am very happy that the Rajasthan Government has initiated steps in this regard and it has undertaken several programmes, which include Rajiv Gandhi Water Management Mission. I want to tell chief minister Ashok Gehlot that the progress of such work should not slow down.

Generally, India is a land of farmers. The entire India cannot be prosperous until the farmers are prosperous. The Congress has paid maximum attention to farmers and agriculture since the beginning. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru has said several years ago that many things can wait but farming cannot wait. This was the reason that Indiraji launched the Green Revolution. Rajivji set up a separate ministry for agriculture-based industries. And this was done to give benefits to farmers and provide jobs to youths in rural areas. You must be aware that last week we organised a conference of general secretaries of districts and blocks of the country. There was a special session for farmers, where a detailed discussion was held on farmers’ problems and grass-root workers raised various issues relating to farmers and farming. We are considering them seriously and in the coming time all necessary steps will be taken.

But there is a big problem that for the entire country the Centre frames the policy. It is regrettable that the present Central Government, under the BJP leadership, just does lip service as far as agriculture is concerned. It has developed no solid programme for the progress of farmers, farm-labourers and villagers. Their policy has destroyed the hard labour of million of farmers. There are problems for farmers in Rajasthan and condition of farmers is in a bad shape in the country. Floods, drought and storms also leave their impact on farmers. But the farmers do not receive proper assistance from the Centre which they are supposed to receive. Farmers are under two-pronged attack. Prices of farm-related goods are sky-rocketing inspite of all this they produce grains but they do not get reasonable price for it. It is a shame that farmers who feed us were forced to commit suicide in many parts of the country. Such a situation did not arise during the Congress government. It is a matter of worry that agricultural profession is rapidly falling. This is the old habit of BJP to hide its shortcomings and to blame others. Again and again, the BJP Government passes its responsibility on the state government. This will not work. What are the conditions in the states, where BJP and its allies are ruling? I want to cite the example of Uttar Pradesh, where lakhs of farmers growing potatoes and sugarcanes are in dire crisis. First of all, they are not able to sell their produce, if they sell they do not get reasonable price. How will they get encouragement? How will they bring up their families?

In all respects, the Central Government, led by BJP, is an anti-people government. This is the government of joblessness and unemployment. The problem of joblessness and unemployment is becoming severe and I see that coming time will be more difficult, if no timely solution is found to contain it. Youths have no jobs, what will they do? What a poor man will do when his stomach is empty? When my sisters will not be able to run their families, how will they bring up their children? What would a common man do when there is no security in life? It is obvious, there will be spate of crimes and violent situation will erupt.

I am surprised to find a world of difference between the deeds and words of parties like BJP. It is surprising, political parties forget their electoral promises once coming to power. Perhaps, you might have heard I hold a meeting of chief ministers of Congress-ruled States and asked them to give details of promises made in election-manifestos and how many of them are fulfilled? We held such a meeting at Mount Abu in Rajasthan. I am happy that our state government’s record is better than that of other governments.

Political parties have different points of view, when they come to power, they are for the people and they should look at the welfare of the people the way parents look after their children. They should not discriminate against each other in society. I am very sad to know that parties like BJP after occupying seat of power do not shrug off their narrow-mindedness. They play the politics of discrimination in society. They try to create such an atmosphere where the wheel of progress and development come to a grinding halt. They try to divert the attention of people from the real issues. They did the same thing in your neighbouring Gujarat. I am proud of my countrymen, who understood the game of the BJP during the Himachal Assembly polls and elected Congress with a thumping majority and clearly expressed their anger against BJP’s wrong policies and maladministration.

I am fully confident that in the coming time this will be replicated in Rajasthan and we shall together take this state, known for its history and tradition, to newer heights of progress and development.

(Excerpts of Congress President’s address at
Farmers’ Conference, Sumerpur, Pali (Raj.) on April 4)