NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday attacked the Congress saying while the party may be “shedding crocodile tears” for the farmers now, the UPA-1 government had rejected the national commission on farmers’ recommendation to set up a minimum support price (MSP). Sitharaman pointed out that the UPA government had rejected the MS Swaminathan report in 2007, despite the Congress Party’s current claims of supporting farmers.
“The national commission on farmers had recommended in 2006, Minimum Support Price should be at 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.This was not accepted by the UPA government,” the finance minister said.
“After saying this, the UPA govt rejected the MS Swaminathan report in 2007. Congress Party can go on shedding crocodile tears about farmers, but no implementation was done in the last 10 years,” she added.
Sitharaman further accused the Congress Party of making empty promises about comprehensive crop insurance, saying that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had introduced the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
“Congress party promises they will bring comprehensive crop insurance. But who is behind the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Modi,” FM Sitharaman said.
The finance minister made the remarks while reply to the debate on the Union Budget.
“The national commission on farmers had recommended in 2006, Minimum Support Price should be at 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.This was not accepted by the UPA government,” the finance minister said.
“After saying this, the UPA govt rejected the MS Swaminathan report in 2007. Congress Party can go on shedding crocodile tears about farmers, but no implementation was done in the last 10 years,” she added.
Sitharaman further accused the Congress Party of making empty promises about comprehensive crop insurance, saying that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had introduced the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
“Congress party promises they will bring comprehensive crop insurance. But who is behind the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Modi,” FM Sitharaman said.
The finance minister made the remarks while reply to the debate on the Union Budget.