Agric sector has suffered most under NDA: Cong

Stepping up its attack on the Modi government, Congress today dubbed it as one working for the elite corporate class and doing nothing for the agriculture sector which has suffered most in the past two years.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi cited figures of "poor" agriculture growth in the country, especially Gujarat - the Prime Minister's home state, where the Patels and Patidars are in a rebellious mood and feared that BJP chief Amit Shah may become a casualty due to this.
He said a recent example of this was when Shah and the newly-appointed Gujarat chief minister were not allowed to speak in Surat yesterday.

"What you have seen is only the manifestation of a deep- seeded and deep-rooted malady which arises from a difference of philosophy, from a lack of concern for have-nots.
"Ultimately, only drawing-room 'showbaazi, sloganeering, acronyms and event management focussed upon a certain privileged elite corporate sector and not on that sector on which 65-70 per cent of India's population is fully dependent upon, mainly the agriculture," he told reporters.
Singhvi said the defining moment of the Modi government was corporate loan waivers and "jobless growth" due to which the agriculture sector, on which over 65 per cent population are dependent upon, was suffering.

"This is a 'sarkar' whose defining moment is corporate loan waivers and reductions. This is a 'sarkar' whose defining mode is urban development, urbanisation growth, jobless growth than the agriculturists," he said, adding that even the Supreme Court has expressed dismay over corporate loans of Rs 1.14 lakh crore being waived by this government.

The Congress leader also said that 20 years of neglect of the agricultural sector is behind this "bagaawat" (rebellion) in Gujarat, due to manifestation of a deep-seated anger.
He said there have been many casualties of this agitation, starting with law and order, stability and governance, besides that of former chief minister Anandiben Patel and the new chief minister seems to be third casualty.

"What BJP has to worry about is that there should not be a fourth casualty of its national president, who is not allowed to speak even for a few minutes in his home state as a sitting ruling party president, that rules in the state and Centre.
Singhvi said the figures are "absolutely shocking" in the PM's home state, which he ruled for 12-15 years, where the BJP national president and the chief minister were not allowed to speak even for a few minutes.
"The slogans heard compared them to General Dyer and asked them to go back. The key slogan was that the 'lotus' should not be allowed to bloom anywhere and especially in 2017. What is the reason behind this deep-rooted anger. It is wholly legitimate, it is wholly justified.

"The all India agricultural position and the Gujarat agricultural position is shocking, to put it mildly. Jobless growth has become the signature tone of this government," he said.
Gujarat tops the list of states in rural inflation with 10.14 per cent, he claimed.
Agricultural production in Gujarat was -2.7 per cent last year. As against 4.25 per cent growth in the country during 2013-14 under UPA, it was a shocking -0.2 per cent last year and 1 per cent this year under NDA rule, Singhvi said.
He also claimed that over 5800 farmers committed suicide in Gujarat during 2002-07 which the Modi government was trying to hide.