INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI/BHOPAL: PM Modi on Saturday said the Centre is annually spending over Rs 6.5 lakh crore on agriculture and farmers, and his
government is ensuring every farmer receives around Rs 50,000 a year in some way or the other, calling it "Modi's guarantee" and not just a
promise, a remark seen as a jibe at the poll promises of opposition parties, particularly Congress.Beware of fake guarantees by
family-centric parties: PM PM Modi, while addressing the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress in Delhi, said on Saturday, "Ye Modi ki guarantee
Aur maine jo kiya hai, woh bata raha hoon, vaade nahi bata raha hoon." (This is Modi's guarantee and I am telling you what I have done
I am not speaking about promises)
"Under the BJP government at the Centre, there is a guarantee that every farmer gets Rs 50,000 in various forms," he said
Later, addressing a rally in tribal-dominated Shahdol in Mahakaushal region of MP, the PM amplified his government's track record of
implementing policy as he contrasted it with alleged failure of opposition parties, particularly Congress, in fulfilling commitments made
He asked people to be wary of "fake guarantees" being given by "family-centric" political parties."Beware of those (parties) who are giving
Such people have brought schemes of guarantees despite not having their own (political) guarantee," Modi said pointing to squabbles in the
opposition camp as it tries to forge an anti-BJP front.Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had launched the party's 2023 campaign on June
12 with five poll guarantees, including free power and Rs 1,500 a month for women."When they give you the guarantee of free electricity,
know that they will increase the power tariff
When they give the guarantee for free travel, then understand that the entire transportation system will be destroyed," the PM said
At the cooperatives' meet, Modi said the discourse around food security should not just be limited to wheat, rice and sugarcane, but should
be broadened to include oilseeds, pulses and other items to reduce import dependence
"We always say that India is self-sufficient in food-grains
But what is the truth? Only self-sufficiency in wheat, rice and sugarcane is not enough," he said, citing how India annually spends roughly
Rs 2-2.5 lakh crore on the import of edible oil, pulses, fish feed and processed food
Modi said, "Sarkar and Sahkaar (government and cooperative) will together provide double strength to the dream of the 'Viksit Bharat'
(developed India)...It is imperative that the cooperative sector becomes a model of transparency and corruption-free governance."Modi
especially mentioned the dairy sector for good export performance and emphasised the need to move with the resolution to fully harness the
He mentioned a new impetus for 'Shree Anna' (millets) as an example of this resolution and told the gathering how in the recent State Dinner
at the White House in US, millets figured prominently.
