Tariq Anwar: “Farmers get nothing even as suicides go up by 42%”

Attacking the Narendra Modi government on doing nothing for the farmers in the country, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP for Katihar Tariq Anwar pointed out in the Lok Sabha that there has been a 42% increase in suicides since the incumbent government took charge in 2014.

“According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the farmers’ suicides has gone up by around 42% since the Modi Government took over,” said Anwar, participating in the debate on motion of thanks to the President’s address. According to NCRB data, over 5,650 farmers had committed suicide in 2014 while it had climbed to 8,007 in 2015.

“However, while the spate of suicides have been going up and the farmers continue to be in distress, they are only being shown ‘dreams’ of 2022,” he said, accusing the government of providing only lip service.

“The government is not serious about resolving the problems of people, farmers, employment of youth and the poor,” said Anwar, raising the following points:

• After having being hit hard by notebandi (demonetisation), the farmers still did not get any relief in the budget. If the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government could announce a loan waiver scheme of ₹72,000 crore, why can’t the Modi government announce any relief to the farmers?
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government will soon complete three years of its term, but is yet to deliver on its promise of implementing the MS Swaminathan recommendations on revising Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• In the last five years, the unemployment rate was at the highest in 2016. It was 3.8% in 2011, and it went up to 5% in 2016. The government has done nothing for the youth, in the age group of 18 to 35, who had voted for Modi.
• Irrespective of the numerous justifications made by the government for having implemented notebandi, the fact is it only brought suffering to people. The government very well knows who the 400 to 500 people are who hold unaccounted money; but billions of people were made to stand in queues. Around 120 people also lost their lives but the government hasn’t expressed any regrets.
• Besides, the PM has also promised a ‘house for all’ by 2022. He is announcing schemes and plans that can be fulfilled only by 2022, 2024 and 2030. It seems the PM is convinced that he will continue in the post for the next 15 years.