Farm crisis: Speakers from both houses make emotional appeals; ‘not to politicise the humanitarian issue’

NEW DELHI: The looming farm crisis highlighted by a recent suicide in the Capital dominated proceedings of both Houses of Parliament on Thursday. Members expressed concern over the plight of farmers with the government and Opposition deploying different tactics to reinforce their respective agendas.

The prime minister and the home minister tactically offered, “constructive cooperation with the Opposition on constructive suggestions” to help farmers and their “deep-rooted problems”. The Opposition blamed the Centre’s “wrong policies, especially the land acquisition bill for the distress of the farming community” and demanded that the bill be withdrawn.

Speakers from both sides made emotional appeals “not to politicise the humanitarian issue”, while doing exactly the opposite.

The stage was set early in the day, after the Opposition forced brief adjournments of the Houses, demanding suspension of question hours, before settling for the presiding officers’ suggestions for a structured debate later. The government and Opposition fielded top leaders for the debate. In the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “the problem (afflicting the farmers) is old, deep-rooted and widespread and we have to seek solutions in that context.” His sub-text was clear; his government had only inherited an issue which spread over the decades when other parties too were in government.

Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajiv Satav and members of the Trinamool Congress, Left, NCP and others blamed the land acquisition bill for the farmers’ distress.

Mulayam Singh pointed out UP too was witnessing deaths of farmers and demanded that the Centre ensure relief. Kharge demanded the Centre announce a “UPA-like loan waiver for farmers”.

In the Rajya Sabha, Congress led the Opposition in cornering the government on the plight of farmers.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad criticised Modi for associating all problems plaguing the country to decades of Congress rule. Azad said farmer would be badly hit by the land acquisition bill if it is passed without the consent clause.