The Haryana Assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes as ruling BJP and opposition Congress members had a heated discussion over the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY).
The discussion took a twist when BJP members threatened a privilege motion against senior Congress MLA Karan Singh Dalal for his allegations against Council of Ministers.
The House was having a discussion on the Calling Attention Motion on PMFBY, which was moved by, among others, Kiran Choudhary of Congress and Abhay Chautala of INLD.
During the discussion, which carried on for nearly three hours this evening, both Congress and INLD staged brief walkouts.
Choudhary and former Chief Minister B S Hooda said the scheme was being thrust on even those farmers who were unwilling to take it up and money was being deducted from their accounts against their wish.
Ruling BJP members lashed out at Dalal as soon as he made certain remarks against the Council of Ministers.
BJP members, including O P Dhankar, Captain Abhimanyu and Anil Vij, stood up demanding an apology from Dalal for his "serious allegations".
They also threatened to move a privilege motion against the Congress member, about which the ruling was later kept reserved by the Speaker following a written reply submitted by the opposition legislator.
Dalal was supported by other Congress members, and allegations and counter allegations on various issues both from BJP and Congress members flew thick and fast.
Intervening in the matter, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Dalal should either give evidence in support of his allegations or be ready to face the privilege motion.
Deputy Speaker Santosh Yadav, who was in the Chair, later expunged the remarks made by the Congress MLA Dalal pertaining to the Council of Ministers, while asking the legislator to apologise for his allegations against the Haryana Cabinet.
Chaotic scenes were witnessed on the PMFBY issue as Hooda and Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu also indulged in verbal duel during discussion accusing each other of doing nothing for the welfare of the farming community.
Taking part in the discussion, CM Khattar said farmers covered under the PMFBY would get enhanced insurance compensation ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 per acre as against the prescribed rates fixed between Rs 7,500 and Rs 12,000 per acre for damage to the crop.
Khattar said 30 per cent farmers have opted for the PMFBY during its first year.
"We will try to bring 100 per cent farmers under the ambit of this scheme in coming season as it would be in the their larger interest," he added.
Khattar clarified that those 70 per cent farmers who have
not yet been covered under PMFBY would be given compensation ranging between Rs 7,500 and Rs 12,000 on account of damage to crops.
He hoped that farmers would come forward to get themselves registered under the scheme as this would ensure them maximum compensation as compared to the earlier systems.
The Chief Minister said the state government would try to incorporate the constructive suggestions received today in the House during the discussion on PMFBY.
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister O P Dhankar, who was replying to the Calling Attention Notice on PMFBY, said similar crop insurance schemes also existed during the regimes of the previous governments but the present dispensation has modified things for the benefit of farmers.
He said the opposition was trying to mislead the farmers by claiming that the scheme was not for their benefit.
Dhankar said the scheme aimed at covering paddy, bajra, maize and cotton in Kharif 2016 and wheat, mustard, gram and barley in Rabi 2016-17 season.
The crop insurance scheme is being implemented on such a large scale for the first time, he said.
"It has been decided by the government to start the scheme's implementation for traditional crops for which the historical data of actual yields is available so that the assessment of claims is feasible. Based on the experience gained from its implementation, more crops can be covered in the coming years," Dhankar said.
He said the scheme is being implemented by dividing the total area in three clusters. Each cluster contains seven districts.
The scheme is being implemented by the Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd., Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd. And ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd, selected on the basis of open competitive bidding process, he said.
