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MP CM Chouhan to address farmers, transfer incentives to accounts after Rahul’s Mandsaur rally
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will address a farmers’ convention in Jabalpur on Sunday and transfer incentives amount to them, days after Congress president Rahul Gandhi made the farm issue a key poll plank during a rally in Mandsaur.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will address a farmers’ convention in Jabalpur on Sunday and transfer incentives amount to them, the state’s agriculture department has said, barely three days after Congress president Rahul Gandhi made the farm issue a key poll plank during a rally in Mandsaur.
A letter dated June 7, 2018, sent by the farmers’ welfare and agriculture development department said Chouhan will transfer the amount to farmers’ bank accounts during a ‘kisan mahasammelan’ at ₹265 per quintal on the procurement of wheat during Rabi season this year.
Official sources said nearly 67.25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat is expected to be procured for the Rabi season.
The spokesperson of Congress’ Madhya Pradesh unit on agriculture Ajay Singh Yadav said the conventions were just an eyewash. “The incentive of ₹265 per quintal will be given only to a few farmers just for CM’s media coverage. Otherwise, most farmers will be deprived of the same,” Yadav said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s state spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal, on his part, said the conventions were a unique step taken by the government and will ensure farmers’ participation in the process.
“It should also be an eye-opener for the Congress that the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is concerned for farmers’ welfare and is taking measures one after another to make agriculture a means of profit for them,” Agarwal added.
The war to woo farmers ahead of the assembly elections has intensified in the state.
Chouhan made a sudden visit to Mandsaur after Gandhi’s programme to address the farmers convention at Pipliya Mandi was finalised. The chief minister underlined the state government’s pro-farmer policies, decisions and benefits being given to the farmers.
And, on June 6 Gandhi promised to waive farm loans in ten days if the party is voted to power. He also said that if the Congress forms the government, it would act against those responsible for the death of six people in Mandsaur in police firing during last year’s farmers’ agitation.
The families of the six met Gandhi before his rally in Pipliyamandi, near Mandsaur.
Similar farmers’ conventions will be held the same day in other districts which will be attended by ministers and other public representatives besides collectors. Block level farmers conventions are also likely to be held on the day at more than 300 block headquarters.
The agriculture department’s letter also said that in all the 50 districts, except Jabalpur, farmers’ conventions will begin at 11am and asked collectors to ensure the participation of at least 10,000 farmers and public representatives.
Chouhan’s address to the farmers in Jabalpur will begin at 1pm and will be telecast on LED screens in conventions in other districts.
