Accusing the Narendra Modi government of pursuing "anti-farmer" policies, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia today said growth in the agriculture sector has nosedived ever since the BJP-led coalition came to power at the Centre.
Describing Congress President Sonia Gandhi as a 'sherni' (a lioness), he said the main Opposition party, under her and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, brought the Modi government to its knees on Land Acquisition Bill.
"Due to anti-farmer policies being followed by NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country's agriculture growth has tumbled to 1.1 per cent from 4.4 per cent when the Congress-led UPA-II government relinquished office 17 months ago," he said.
The Lok Sabha MP from Guna-Shivpuri was addressing a gathering of farmers here.
He said the support price of agriculture produce hasn't been hiked by the NDA government, which has added to the woes of farmers who are under distress.
"Congress has always fought for farmers and will continue to do so in future, come what may," said the party's chief whip in Lok Sabha.
"Under sherni (lioness) Sonia Gandhi and our leader Rahul Gandhi, we brought the Government to its knees on Land Acquisition Bill. The Opposition prevailed over NDA which had to beat a retreat over the Land Acquisition Bill, which was anti-farmers," the former Union Minister said.
He recalled the UPA government had waived loans worth Rs 72,000 crore of farmers, when they were in distress.
However, the BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and at the Centre were least bothered about farmers who are facing problems due to poor monsoon, Scindia said.
Most of the farmer suicides have been reported from five states and three of them are ruled by BJP, he said.
