Columnist, minister enter verbal duel

Bhatt gunned for the governments who have been in power till now."Till now there has not been a single chief minister in Gujarat who has hailed from an agriculture background and has cared for the farmers, except Keshubhai Patel, who was a farmer."

Due to this the conditions of farmers has failed to improve post independence, he said, "I request state agriculture minister to spare a little time and brainstorm directly with the farmers present here instead of hurrying to leave this function."

Bhatt, who hails from a farming background, said, "As against the scenario in Gujarat, the scenario in Maharashtra is absolutely different. Majority of chief ministers who ruled there hailed from agriculture background, so the kind of focussed efforts made in area of irrigation systems by state governments in Maharashtra are second to none in the nation."

Maharashtra has flourished tremendously in last 40 years, in agriculture domain conquering new heights in areas of horticulture, floriculture and so on, said Bhatt.

Responding to the allegations made by Bhatt, Chudasama said, "At present Krishi Mahotsav is going on in the state and I am attending this function as a part of it. From here I will rush directly to a farmer camp at Gondal and not to my home."

Chudasama emphasised on how wrongly Bhatt had blamed the state government for negligence towards farmers. He said, "For the first time in the history of state of Gujarat, scientists working at the agriculture universities in Gujarat have been directly told to participate in the mainstream agriculture process by joining in the Krishi Mahotsav. They interact with farmers, test their soils and share their knowledge and expertise with farmers, and also learn from the traditional styles adopted by farmers."

After brainstorming a perfect solution, they jointly derive on as to what kind of crop-pattern farmers should they opt for the year."

Chudasama also explained on the 'optional' irrigation methodologies adopted by the state government in Gujarat and educating farmers for same. He said, "Our irrigation systems are also unmatched and at par with any state in the country, because we have learnt from droughts and famine."

The state government has been focussing adequately on the Sujalam Sufalam Scheme for making farmers self sufficient for their irrigation requirements.

We have also emphasised on the construction of check-dams, Khet Talavadi and Bori Bandh Schemes for preserving water, said Chudasama.

He also said, "This monsoon forecast calendar has been designed jointly by the state government and Agriculture University of Anand, which I proudly present on behalf of state government to Shri Kantibhai Bhatt."

Chudasama then went on to touch the feet of Kanti Bhatt and when the latter questioned why he was doing so, the minister responded by saying, "After all I am a Kshtriya and seeking blessings from a Brahmin is a birth-right of ours."