Center's package reflects 'voodoo economics' Of PM, FM: Congress

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the government has not put a single penny in pocket of farmers or farm labourers through the package and claimed that farmers have lost over Rs 50,000 crore this Rabi season.

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday called Center's 20 lakh crore economic package a "jumla", saying that it reflects the "voodoo economics" which is being followed by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

After FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced the third tranche of the economic package, Congress accused the Central Government for remaining totally "insensitive" towards the farmers and migrant labourers by not providing them "even a single penny" during an unprecedented crisis of Coronavirus pandemic.

"One thing is absolutely clear that the so-called Rs 20-lakh crore economic package has proved to be a jumla package. It reflects the 'voodoo' economics being followed by the prime minister and the finance minister," Surjewala said at a press conference through video-conferencing.

"During the Corona epidemic, farmers and labourers are facing the most difficulty. Instead of providing them help, this government is pushing the farmer in dept trap. After the third day of announcements, it has been completely proven that Modi Govt has completely failed in its journey from 'Headline Management' to 'Helpline Management'," said Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, while addressing a press conference.

He said the government has not put a single penny in the pocket of farmers or farm labourers through the package and claimed that farmers have lost over Rs 50,000 crore this Rabi season.

He said the prime minister and the finance minister only talk big things and indulge in headline management, but have done nothing concrete for farmers or any other section of society.

Surjewala said that the farmers have lost Rs 21,000 crore by the distress sale of wheat, and another Rs 10,000 crores on the distress sale of fruits and vegetables, which was far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

"Estimated production of wheat for Rabi season 2020-21 100 million tons. This means that as per the MSP of Rs 1,925 per quintal, the total cost will be around Rs 1,92,500 crores. But Modi government is procuring only 35 percent wheat on MSP, i.e. 350 lakh tonnes," he explained.

He claimed that since the markets were shut and farmers have to sell at distress prices as the government was buying only 26.5 per cent of the Rabi crop at MSP.

"Neither farmers nor farm labourers will benefit from these jumla announcements of the finance minister. Today, farmers and farm workers are frustrated and disappointed," he said.

While commenting over the announcements made by FM regarding Kisan Samman Nidhi, Surjewala said, "There are 14.64 crore, marginal farmers, in India as per the Agriculture Census, 2016. Out of these, the government has only identified 8.22 crore farmers have been identified so far for the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This means that the rest of 6.42 crore farmers have not been identified under the scheme."

He also accused the Government for increasing the cost price of farming by about Rs 15,000 per hectare in last 5 years, while returning only Rs 6,000 per year to them.

"Modi government has increased excise duty on diesel from Rs 3.56 to Rs 31.83 per litre. In May 2014, price of DAP fertilizer was Rs 1125 per bag and today it has increased to Rs1400 per bag. For the first time, GST has been imposed on agriculture," he pointed out.

He alleged that the FM had "intentionally skipped" to accept the part that all the announcements made by her recently, are a part of Union Budget.

He said, "She is representing the Budget schemes as an economic package. It is unfair to trick or cheat people by this way. We totally condemn it."

Taking a jibe at PM Modi, Surjewala mentioned that he had promised to double the farmers income by 2020, saying that with such schemes and announcements, PM would not be able to do that even by 2050.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week announced a cumulative package of Rs 20 lakh crore (nearly 10 per cent of GDP) to provide relief to various segments of the economy battered by coronavirus lockdown.

(PTI Report)