Gujarat Congress puts Narendra Modi in the dock over Vidarbha farmers' issue

AHMEDABAD: Ahead of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's `Chai Pe Charcha' with farmers of Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Gujarat Congress today asked him to address the problems faced by the farmers in his home state first.

Congress MP from Rajkot Kuvarji Bavalia and party MLA Raghavji Patel accused Modi of ignoring the woes of farmers in the state. A press release issued by them today claimed 7,063 farmers and people associated with agriculture in the state had committed suicide during BJP's 13-year rule in Gujarat.

They also alleged Gujarat was the only state which charged 4 per cent VAT on fertilisers, making it costlier for farmers. Bavalia also claimed almost six lakh farmers in Gujarat were still waiting for electricity connections.

Bavalia further charged the state government remained indifferent to irrigation-related problems. Congress also claimed farmers had become victims of `dark-zone' policy under which businessmen get electricity connection overnight while farmers do not. Congress leaders also held the state government responsible for snail-paced work of Narmada canal network.