RJD MP Manoj Jha takes a jibe at Agriculture Minister says ‘a lot of difference between words and reality’

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD’s) Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha on Saturday (December 7, 2024) took a jibe at Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his Parliament address on farmers, saying, “There is a lot of difference between their word and reality.”

Speaking with ANI, Mr. Jha criticised the authorities for the use of tear gas on the farmers protesting at the Sambu border with the demands for compensation and a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP).

“Yesterday [December 6, 2024] also the Union Agriculture Minister said very good things [about farmers] in Parliament in response to my question. There is a lot of difference between their words and reality. Sometimes tear gas, sometimes lathi charge is done. They [farmers] do not deserve this,” Mr. Jha said.

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Mr. Jha urged the Central Government to talk to farmers and accept their demands. On Friday (December 6, 2024), Mr. Chouhan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers and ensuring the procurement of crops at these rates. “MSP is provided when crops are sold at rates lower than the MSP. I want to assure you that the welfare of farmers remains our priority. We have worked towards raising MSP and purchasing crops at MSP rates,” Mr. Chouhan said.

Mr. Chouhan further stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, there has been an unprecedented increase in budget allocations for farmers over the past decade. “The Government under PM Modi’s leadership is dedicated to farmers’ welfare. Over the last 10 years, there has been an unprecedented rise in the budget for agriculture and an increase in MSP for crops. Mr. Modi government operates with foresight, focusing on enhancing farmers’ incomes,” he added.

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On Friday (Dec. 6, 2024), farmers launched ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, demanding a legal guarantee or MSP on crops from the Central Government. They were stopped at the Sambhu border by police which used tear gas shells to disperse the protestors. Several farmers were reportedly injured during the protest.