Govt. is sensitive to plight of farmers: Venkaiah Naidu

Highlighting the pro-farmer steps taken by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said the government is sensitive to the plight of farmers.

Replying to the debate on farmers problems in the Lok Sabha, Naidu said the people have decided who represents the farmers.

"The government has raised the compensation for crop failure from Rs one lakh to four lakhs," said Naidu.

"When the recent hailstorm struck farmers, our ministers were sent to different states. I visited Telangana personally," he added.

Naidu emphasized that there is a need to find a long lasting solution to the problems of the farmers.

"We are 'Team India', states and the Centre working together. We have to put our heads together and find a long lasting solution to the problems of the country's farmers," he said.

Naidu's reaction came after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Centre and said the 'achche din' government has failed the country.

"The 'achche din' government has failed the country on minimum support price and agriculture credit. In our time, agriculture grew. The average increase in credit was 20 percent each year," Gandhi said in his first speech in the 16th Lok Sabha.

"The "achche din" government has given only an increase of five percent MSP, agricultural credit has not been improved and agricultural growth is one percent," he added.

The Congress vice-president also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment towards the farming community.

"The Prime Minister said he will look out for the farmers. How will you strengthen the country when the foundation is the farmers?" he asked.

"How much area has been affected by unseasonal rains? Are the experts right, is the PM right or is the Agricultural Ministry right?" he added.

Gandhi also advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go and see how much area has been affected.

"I have a suggestion. Why doesn't the PM go and see for himself how much area has been affected?" he said.

"One thing is clear. This government is ignoring the farmers and doesn't listen to labourers. It is the truth that your government is ignoring the farmers and that is why you are raising the voices," he added.

The controversial Land Ordinance was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy today amid uproar by the opposition leaders.

The bill could not be converted into a law in the first half of the Budget Session due to opposition in the Rajya Sabha, where the government does not have requisite numbers, and was re-promulgated on April 3- a day before it was to lapse.