New Delhi: Amid the ongoing farmers’ protest, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “This is a serious issue, and to take it lightly means that we are not being practical, and our policy-making is not on the right track.” He pointed to the growing angst among the farming community, and directed questions most of his questions at the Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Dhankhar highlighted the rise in the country’s global standing and questioned how, under these circumstances, the promises made to farmers remain unfulfilled. “To achieve developed nation status, every citizen’s income must increase eightfold, with the majority of this growth coming from rural areas,” he pointed out.
The Vice President was speaking at a ceremony to mark the centenary of ICAR-CIRCOT (Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology).
‘The wheel of time is turning, we are not doing anything’
During his address, he asked: “Agriculture Minister, every moment is important for you. I urge you to please tell me, what was promised to the farmer? Why was the promise not fulfilled? What should we do to fulfil the promise? There was a movement last year, there is a movement this year too. The wheel of time is turning, we are not doing anything. Did the previous Agriculture Ministers make any written promises? If so, what happened to them?”
He added that for the first time, he had seen India changing. “For the first time I am realising that developed India is not our dream but our goal. India was never at such heights in the world… When this is happening, why is my farmer worried and suffering?”
‘The conditions of farmers remain unchanged despite…’
Dhankhar also expressed grave concern over farmers facing difficulties despite the existence of key institutions like the ICAR. “If such institutes (like ICAR and its affiliates) were alive, and making contributions then this wouldn’t be the situation…Despite these institutions being located in every corner of the country, the conditions of farmers remain unchanged,” he lamented. He exhorted agricultural research institutions to encourage farmers to add value to their products in order to increase their income.
