Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Modi's Approach to Farmers' Crisis Amid Rising Debts and Fertilizer Dependence

In a fiery critique, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi denounced the Modi government on Thursday for driving farmers deeper into debt, describing the system as silently 'killing' them. Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of failing to deliver on promises to double farmers' incomes, while indulging in self-promotion.

Gandhi referenced a media report alleging that 767 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra within three months, emphasizing that these figures represent families and shattered homes abandoned by a government watching indifferently. He criticized the high costs of seeds, fertilizers, and diesel, compounded by a lack of minimum support prices and ignored demands for loan waivers.

The Congress leader also raised alarms over India's dependency on China for 80% of its specialty fertilizers, as disruptions threaten the agricultural backbone. Gandhi castigated the government for lacking a strategic plan to boost domestic fertilizer production, leaving Indian farmers vulnerable to import interruptions.

(With inputs from agencies.)