Congress does not want government-farmers talks to succeed: BJP

NEW DELHI: Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Congress does not want farmers’ issues to be resolved.

“The tenth round of discussion between the farmers and the government is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday). Congress wants these talks to be unsuccessful. But there is regular communication between the farmers and the government and we will resolve the issue,” environment, forest and climate change minister Javadekar told media persons on Tuesday.

The senior BJP leader also attacked the Congress for releasing a booklet titled ‘Kheti Ka Khoon’ (murder of farming) and alleged that the Congress had blood on its hands – of the farmers who committed suicide during its rule.


Javadekar said Gandhi should have replied to the questions asked by the BJP’s national president JP Nadda. “If he (Rahul Gandhi) doesn’t know the answers, he should accept his failure,” he said.

Before Javadekar, Nadda had posed a few questions to Gandhi before the latter addressed the media and had accused the Congress of misleading the farmers.

“When will Congress stop provoking and misleading farmers of India? Why did the UPA stall the Swaminathan Commission report for years and did not increase the MSP (minimum support price)?” Nadda had asked in a series of tweets.

He had said that farmers remained poor for decades under Congress governments and that Gandhi felt sympathy for farmers only while in opposition.

Nadda had also accused the Congress leader of spreading lies that all APMC (agricultural produce marketing committee) mandis would be closed. He had said that action against APMC mandis was part of the Congress manifesto.