 "Some forces instigating farmers' protests in MP: Rajnath Singh")
Against the backdrop of violent farmer protests in Madhya Pradesh and death of five peasants in police firing, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said some forces were instigating the agitation and the issue was under investigation.
He also accused the opposition parties of playing a cruel joke with farmers and assured that the Centre would provide all support to Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh amid the ongoing farmers' agitations there.
"I feel there is no need of security forces when it comes to farmers' protest. But as per the available information, there are some forces instigating the agitation (in MP). As the state government has ordered an enquiry into the matter, we should wait for its findings," he told reporters here to a query on the police firing in Mandsaur district leading to the death of five farmers.
Singh was in the city to hold a dialogue on the completion of three years of the Narendra Modi government.
Widespread violence, including several incidents of arson, have been reported from western Madhya Pradesh, during the week-long agitation.
Mandsaur especially has been on the boil since past two days after five farmers were killed in police firing there.
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Singh also said that "the NDA government would not do anything that will shatter the trust of farmers and the common man."
"One thing must be clear to the people of this country that the BJP-led government at the Centre or state are completely sensitive towards farmer issues. My appeal to the farmers would be to come forward and talk to their respective chief ministers," he said.
"I am the son of a farmer and I have served as Union agriculture minister as well. No prime minister in the past has assured of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, like Narendra Modi has," the minister added.
Commenting on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi joining the agitation, the home minister said, "The Congress should not forget that they were in power for so long but have not done enough to increase the farmers' income."
"They are responsible for the farmers' plight in the country," he alleged.
Later, while addressing a function here, Singh said, "The opposition parties are playing a cruel joke with the farmers. The Union government will extend all kind of support to the states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where farmers' issues have surfaced recently."
He praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for taking "pro-farmers" decisions and appealed to the agrarian community to support him.
During the event, Rajnath also alleged that the Congress party created a crisis of credibility about the politicians in the country and the government.
"When Congress was in power, its actions never reflected what its leaders used to say. There is a difference between 'kathni' (speech) and 'karni' (deeds) of Congress, which led to the crisis of credibility," he said.
The Union minister said the BJP government was now restoring people's faith in politicians and government.
He also took on former prime minister Manmohan Singh over his criticism of the demonetisation move.
"Manmohan Singh had criticised the demonetisation decision, though he had worked as the RBI governor. Today, several international rating agencies have admitted that India's GDP is growing," the minister said.
"The corruption cases in Congress were in bulk. So many ministers faced corruption charges and some of them even went to jail. I want to challenge the opposition (to prove) whether the BJP leaders have faced any such charges," Singh said.
Commenting on the BJP-led government's plans for the economic reforms, he said, "We undertake reforms when the economy is strong and doing well. Earlier, the reforms were implemented only when the economy was weak. Look at the decision of going for liberalisation in the 90s.