Guj govt to announce new scheme for farmers soon: Dy CM

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel Tuesday said the state government would soon announce a new scheme for farmers.

Patel's announcement came hours after state Congress workers and leaders were detained while trying to take out a march towards the Assembly complex in Gandhinagar demanding farm loan waiver.

Talking to reporters on the issue raised by the opposition party, Patel said the BJP government in Gujarat has carried out several pro-farmer works while being in power in the last 22 years.

"In the coming days, our government will announce a new scheme for the benefit of farmers. Though the announcement was supposed to be made today, we have delayed it as the Assembly is in session," Patel said after taking part in the session at Gandhinagar.

Commenting on the protest rally organised by the Congress, Patel alleged that the opposition party has done nothing for farmers when it was in power in the state before 1995.

"Congress leaders can always meet us to make a representation about the farmers' issues. But they are not doing that. They are only interested in politicising the issue keeping in mind the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," Patel said.

"During the Congress rule, protesting farmers had been shot dead. But such incidents never happened in our 22-years of rule. Our government has launched several pro-farmer schemes, such as drip irrigation, installation of gates on Sardar Sarovar dam and laying of canal network for irrigation," he said.