Nagpur Wardha News : Accusing the UPA government of ignoring farmers’ interests, Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke about his vision for addressing their concerns, which includes saving them from clutches of money-lenders, rationalising farm exports and inter-linking of rivers.
Addressing a public meeting in this cotton belt of Maharashtra, he raked up the issue of suicides by farmers because of heavy debts and “lack of support” from the government and banks.
Targeting the government, the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said more farmers have died due to suicides during the 10-year-rule of Congress-led UPA than soldiers on the borders.
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09 April 2025
“…When farmers are committing suicides, the government in Delhi is sleeping peacefully,” the Gujarat chief minister said.
“For a variety of reasons the farmers have to take debt and falls under a debt trap,” Modi said while talking about the causes of their suicides.
He vowed that if his government comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls, “farmers won’t have to go to Sahukars (money-lenders) for loans at exorbitant interest”.
He said first guarantee of a government must be that a farmer cannot be allowed to die.
Taking up the issues of cotton farmers, he accused the Centre of causing losses to them by banning the export of the commodity even while promoting meat exports. “Why was cotton export banned,” he questioned.
Taking a jibe at the government, Modi said that “it has become a fashion to declare a package after every crisis” and suggested that it was “time to pack those who keep giving these packages that don’t reach you (farmers)”.
Here are a few highlights of his speech:
1 Speaking of farmers in Vidarbha region, Narendra Modi reminded them of that it is time that they should follow Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan – Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan. He said, “There was a time when we needed grains from overseas but Shastri awakened the nation with his mantra.”
2 Taking on the Congress-NCP alliance, he said, “Are the Jawans and Kisan safe under the Congress rule? Can anyone say they are safe?” Reminding people of the soldiers, who were beheaded by the Pakistani soldiers, he said, “…if an Army Jawan is unsafe then what are we talking about.”
3 Unleashing a scathing attack, Modi said, “Congress promises are empty election slogans only to mislead people. At least you could have told us about getting the heads back of our beheaded soldiers.”
4 Stepping up the attack on NCP leader and Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar, he said, “And farmers, can any farmer trust the Government here or the Agriculture Minister.”
5 Modi also said that it has become the fashion to declare a package after every crisis. Appealing people, he said, “Time to pack those who keep giving these packages which do not reach the needy.”
6 Speaking about the increasing numbers of farmers death, he said, “Farmers are killed here in this region. We have great potential for agriculture but farmers are dying.”
7 Taking on Sharad Pawar, he said, “Agriculture Minister should answer – when cotton harvest was good, global demand rose. Farmers were getting good prices but…. Why was cotton export ban placed? For whom it was done. If a farmer earns good money then the Government has a problem but there is subsidy when mutton is exported.”
8 Sharpening attack at the UPA Government, he said, “Neither do they understand the nation nor do they know the path to take India ahead. They only want to win polls.”
9 Revealing the formula for success, he said that five ‘Fs’, i.e., farm, fibre, fabric, fashion, foreign formula is required for the cotton producing farmers. If our farmers are ruined then how will we feed ourselves.”
10 Lambasting the Congress, he said that if the Government had any soft corner for farmers then it would have done something for them but the Congress is not bothered. They must guarantee that not a single farmer should die.
11 For a variety of reasons, the farmer has to take debt and falls under a debt trap and the Government fails to help them. But I assure you that farmers won’t have to go to sahukars to seek loans at exorbitant interest. Why isn’t the money that belongs to farmers not being given to them? They announce packages but give nothing. Their priority is not how water reaches farmers… however, the need of the hour is to acquaint farmers with latest technology.
12 Modi said, “We should create such systems that no farmer commits suicide or die of returning the debts.”
13 Modi also spoke about the need of goods train. “Have we thought about goods trains properly? Focus is only on passenger trains. We need goods trains for what farmer produces,” he said.
14 “The BJP is committed to transform agriculture sector. We want to increase farmer income, purchasing power of villages,” Modi said.
15 Modi appealed people to vote for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance so that there can be a strong and stable Government at the Centre. We talk of changing fortunes of farmers but they say stop Modi. We say stop corruption and price rise, they say stop Modi.
16 While concluding his speech, he said, “Be it the Congress or the NCP, don’t send any of them to Delhi. They ruined things here and will do worse there”.
