STATEMENT BY SHRI C.P. JOSHI

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Admin

“Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is once again misleading, misguiding and hoodwinking the farmers of India by announcing deceptive relief packages without providing much needed help and succor to the anguished and distressed farmers. Recent hailstorms, unprecedented rains and high velocity winds have caused damage to nearly 180 hectares (447.07 lakh acres) of Rabi crops in 14 States causing damage of Rs.40,000 crores as per agricultural experts and scientists,.
Alleged relaxation of percentages for crops damage and so-called enhancement of compensation by Shri Narendra Modi yesterday is another cruel political gimmick to dupe and deceive the gullible farmers of India.
Indian National Congress would like to place the following falsehoods:-
(1) Relief for damaged crops has been restricted to a maximum of two hectares or five acres. This will automatically deny 50% of farmers the benefit of compensation. (Please see letter dated 8th April, 2015 of Ministry of Home, Disaster Management Division, Government of India, para 5(ii) of Annexure – www.ndmindia.nic.in).
(2) As a double jeopardy, crop damaged area is being reduced manifold by Government of India.
On 26th March, 2015; Shri Narendra Modi held a video conference with the States and reduced the area eligible for crop compensation from 181 lakh hectares (447.07 acres) to 106 lakh hectares (261.82 lakh acres). Copy of press release dated 26th March, 2015 of Agricultural Ministry is attached.
Officials of the Agricultural Ministry, post PM’s announcement of yesterday, are estimating the crop damaged area as 80 lakh hectares (197.60 lakh acres).
Hence, eligible area for crop compensation has been effectively reduced, even as per government assessment, from 181 lakh hectares (447.07 lakh acres) to 80 lakh hectares (197.60 lakh acres) i.e. a reduction of 101 lakh hectares (249.47 lakh acres).
Once, this area is further reduced by 50% based on the maximum two hectares eligible norms, actual area eligible for crop compensation, as per government, would get reduced to near 40 lakh hectares (98.8 lakh acres).
This is a deceptive and clever ploy to deny crop compensation to farmers.
(3) Even the so-called increase in norms of crop compensation by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi would lead to grant of mere pittance to farmers, which is neither adequate nor appropriate.
According to the letter dated 8th April, 2015 referred to in (1) above, new crop compensation norms are as follows:-
(a) Rs.6,800/- per hectare for rain-fed areas i.e. equivalent to Rs.2,750/- per acre for rain-fed area.
(b) Rs.13,500/- per hectare in assured irrigation areas i.e. equivalent to Rs.5,465/- per acre in assured irrigation areas.
Admittedly, damage to Rabi crops is in the range of Rs.20,000/- per acre and above in almost all areas. In such an eventuality, this amount of compensation is neither adequate nor appropriate.
(4) Even the declaration of reduction of norms of damaged crops from 50% to 33% is not new. Shri Narendra Modi and BJP Government must know that almost all States in India already provide compensation for damaged crops between 25% and 50%.
Particularly, Congress ruled States have been paying much higher compensation. A case in point being that of Haryana, where during the Congress Government, compensation per acre was already fixed at Rs.10,000/- per acre. More recently, Karnataka Government has also granted compensation at Rs.9,000/- per acre.
(5) Modi Government is putting the onus of payment of compensation on the State Governments by asking them to first utilize the entire amount of ‘State Disaster Response Fund’ (SDRF) before asking Government of India to provide contribution from ‘National Disaster Response Fund’ (NDRF).
As a multiple jeopardy to the States, latest communication dated 8th April, 2015 of Modi Government, referred to in (1) above, not only provides an obligation to utilize SDRF but also puts a conditionality that in the eventuality of a second crop damage or other disaster, compensation will be altogether denied to that State from NDRF. Para-3 of the letter states as follows:-
“3. As the first charge on SDRF should be on a disaster of severe nature, there has been a requirement to adjust balance amount of SDRF whenever NDRF amount is released. This procedure stands revised as follows:-
50% of SDRF balance, as on 31st March of the preceding financial year, will be adjusted while releasing the assistance from NDRF for the first disaster in a financial year. In case the same State faces another severe disaster during the same year, no adjustment will be made while releasing NDRF assistance.”
This is a classic manner in which States are being first obligated to pay from SDRF and then being denied subsequent compensation from NDRF.
(6) Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi had written to Government of India on 6th April, 2015 asking for grant of a relaxation beyond 14% in Rabi wheat crop in light of overwhelming rain in March/April, 2015 and excessive moisture content.
Relaxation of moisture content has been altogether denied by Modi Government.
Even the undamaged Rabi wheat crop has moisture content of 20%-30% currently on account of unprecedented and repeated rains and hailstorms. Restricting the moisture norms to 14% would lead to non purchase of Rabi wheat crop by FCI and other government agencies leaving the farmers at the mercy of market forces. These reports have already started coming in as wheat has started coming gradually in all markets.
Anti-farmer mindset of Modi Government is, thus, writ large.
(7) Vide letters dated 30th March, Ist April and 8th April, 2015 (copies attached) addressed to States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan by Government of India, only relaxation granted in Rabi wheat procurement is to the extent of 10% for ‘luster lost wheat’ and ‘shriveled and broken grains’.
What is, however, most painful is that a draconian conditionality has been added in these letters for purchase of ‘luster lost wheat’ above 10% and upto 50% at only 1/4th of Minimum Support Price i.e. @ 362.50 per quintal as against MSP of Rs.1450/- per quintal.”

BJP is a ‘Suit-Boot’ Sarkar: Rahul Gandhi

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Admin

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the Narendra Modi-led NDA government in Lok Sabha accusing it of being ‘pro-corporate and anti-farmer’.
“Yours is a government of big people, of the rich. Yours is a Suit-Boot Sarkar,” said Congress Vice President in Lok Sabha.
He added “The ‘AccheDin’ government, they call themselves, has failed the country.”
Attacking the government,Rahul Gandhi said, “On one hand you are weakening the farmer. Then, when he is weak you will strike him down with the axe of your Land Ordinance.”
“The farmers are India’s backbone. The farmers gave us Green Revolution, because he was provided with the idea of MSP,”said Rahul Gandhi. “Everything has been built on the foundations laid down by India’s farmers,”he added.
Congress Vice President said, “You are making a big mistake by hurting the farmers and the poor. They are the most powerful, and not the big businessmen in their fancy cars.”
“The PM understands political calculations. 67% of the population depends on Agriculture…Why is he angering this vast chunk?”

Farmers’ message to Modi-sarkaar is clear that its now enough”: Smt. Sonia Gandhi

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Admin

Addressing the ‘KisaanKhetMazdoor Rally’ on Sunday, Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi said that Shri Modi’shas added insult to the injuries of farmers by bringing the Land Ordinance.

“Modi government’s attitude is totally against the farmers, the helpless and the poor. We are not going to allow the interests of farmers and laborers to be crushed in this manner,” said Smt. Gandhi. She added that people of India have understood his hollow promises and the real designs behind them.
Congress President said Shri Modi’s government made minimal increase in the Minimum Support Price and did away with the bonus on farmers’ crops. “There is a huge gap between the words and the deeds of the Prime Minister and the BJP,” said Smt. Gandhi.
“See the callousness of Shri Modi’s government,while on one hand farmers’ crops have been damaged because of unseasonal rains and hailstorms, the announcement of relief made by his government amounts to virtually nothing. Also, funding to schemes started by the UPA government has been cut down,” she added.
Attacking Shri Modi, Congress President said the BJP government has misled the farmers and provisions that were designed to safeguard the interests of farmers have been done away with, to benefit industrialists and builders.
Smt. Gandhi promised to fight for the farmers’ cause without making any compromises.“Shri Modi’s government’s attitude is totally against the farmers, the helpless and the poor. We have got new energy today and we will fight for the poor and the weak,” said the Congress President.
She added that farmers have gathered at the Kisaan rally of the Congress party today to convey a clear message to Modi-government, that its now enough.
“We will not allow those forces to succeed, who want to destroy the legacy of our freedom. We will fight without any fear against such forces. We might be out of power but we will not allow any leniency in our efforts in this direction,”said Smt. Gandhi.

Statement of Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Ex MP and Senior Spokesperson, AICC

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Admin

Even as the debate on the acute agrarian crisis continues in the Parliament and outside, the Government, the Prime Minister and his Ministers- Mr Modi and company are constantly and unabashedly misleading the nation and duping the farmers. The Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh intentionally, knowingly and deliberately not only misled the Lok Sabha but the entire country. The Congress Party demands that Shri Radha Mohan Singh comes out clean on the issue and apologizes to the people.

During the course of the debate, a forceful intervention was made by Congress Vice-President & MP, Shri Rahul Gandhi. An all-important issue of reduction in the area eligible for crop compensation by Government of India was raised by him. It was pointed out that agriculture experts and scientists had assessed the area of damaged crops at 181 lakh hectares with loss of over Rs.40,000 crore. It was further pointed out that Government of India and the Prime Minister had reduced this area to 106 lakh hectares with officials of Ministry of Agriculture further unilaterally reducing the area of damaged crop to 80 lakh hectares.

Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh intervened on behalf of the Government. According to Shri Singh, area of damaged crops assessed at 181 lakh hectares was based on initial telephonic information collected from States. The Minister further asserted that this area was then reduced to 80 lakh hectares at the time of video conferencing taken by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the States. Shri Singh also said that since the date of video conferencing, area has been now assessed at little over 93 lakh hectares.

The Minister made extremely contradictory assertions with the sole aim of intentionally and knowingly misleading the House by stating that area of damaged crops of farmers was assessed at 80 lakh hectares at the time of video conferencing held by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. In fact, this statement of the Agriculture Minister is making the Prime Minister a complicit party to this pathetic exercise of misleading the country.

Annexed at A, is a copy of the press release issued by Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India on 26th March, 2015, which is available on the website of Press Information Bureau also. This press release, at the bottom, clearly states that Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had taken a video conferencing with States and their concerned Chief Ministers on 23rd March, 2015 and the estimated crop loss has been reduced from 181 lakh hectares to 106 lakh hectares. This press release of Union Agriculture Ministry, which also quotes Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, clearly falsifies the statement of Union Agriculture Minister to the effect that area under crop loss was reduced to 80 lakh hectares at the time of video conferencing by the Prime Minister.

Assertion of Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh that even the first assessment of 181 lakh hectares was merely based on information collected over telephone is also wrong and deliberately made with a view to mislead the House. Press release dated 26th March, 2015 (Annexure-A) also reflects that various States had submitted ‘Memorandum of Loss’ to the Union Agriculture Ministry in writing after assessment of damage to crops. Press release (Annexure-A) further reflects that seven senior officers of Union Agriculture Ministry had gone to seven big States to conduct an assessment of damage. Hence, assessment of crop damage to 181 lakh hectares resulted on account of Memorandum of Loss submitted in writing by State Governments as also assessment conducted by officers of Ministry of Agriculture in seven States.

In fact, the entire country, particularly the crop damaged area of Central and Western India was lashed by massive hailstorms and incessant rains post 26th March, 2015. Actually, quantification of incessant rains post 26th March, 2015, when compared to earlier years, exceeds over 2000% in many area. Attached herewith is the data released by Indian Metrological Department, Government of India and available for the period Ist March, 2015 to 15th April, 2015 including separate data for the period 2nd April, 2015 to 8th April, 2015 and 9th April, 2015 to 15th April, 2015 as Annexures-B and C.

Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh has misled the House and the Nation deliberately and needs to apologize for the same.

Shri Anand Sharma, issued the following statement on snooping family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Admin

Commenting on news items appearing in a section of press today qua alleged snooping on family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Shri Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader, Rajya Sabha and Senior Spokesperson, AICC issued the following statement to the press:-

“News reports suggesting snooping of family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose are motivated news plants based on selective and mischievous leaks. BJP and Government are running a sinister campaign of innuendoes, insinuations and selective leaks aimed at maligning National icons and our founding fathers including Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, S. Vallabbhai Patel, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, Shri Govind Ballabh Pant and others.

Such motivated half truths and untruths are being floated in the media by Modi Government with the sole aim of diverting the attention of people of India from miserable performance, betrayal of mandate and failed promises of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, whose Government will be completing its first year in power in May, 2015.

As selective leaks of Netaji’s family being snooped upon by Intelligence Bureau (IB) between 1948-68 at the behest of Pt. Nehru have fallen flat, BJP is planting another mischievous but contradictory story about snooping resulting on account of Pt. Nehru writing to the then Foreign Secretary on 25th November, 1957 enquiring about the visit of Shri Amiya Bose (Netaji’s nephew) to Tokyo. While this news plant on one hand contradicts the earlier media story of IB surveillance, one is forced to wonder as to how and why an enquiry by a Prime Minister – in most transparent manner and vide written note sent through the proper channel of Foreign Secretary and Ambassador – about a close associate of a family can be construed as snooping or espionage.

Moreover, Netaji’s grandnephew and MP, Dr. Sugato Bose has already rubbished and rejected the BJP floated theories of Netaji’s alleged return causing a political challenge to Pt. Nehru, S. Vallabbhai Patel, Shri C. Rajagopalachari, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri and others. In a section of the press, Dr. Sugato Bose is clearly quoted today to state, “There is also no evidence to suggest that it was ordered by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru”. Dr. Sugato Bose, MP has also spoken about the intimate relationship shared between the ‘Bose family’ and the ‘Nehru family’.

Entire exercise is a diversionary tactic and gimmick on part of Prime Minister and BJP Government to again befool the people. Unfortunately, Modi Government is indulging in extremely dangerous, petty and ridiculous means.

On behalf of Indian National Congress, we reject the vitriolic and diabolical design of Modi Government to defame National icons and dare the Prime Minister to declassify all documents, put them in public domain and debate the issue on the floor of Parliament. We also appeal to the media at large to refrain from pushing forward the BJP Government’s innuendoes and insinuation driven diversionary agenda.”

ANAND SHARMA

Condolence Message from Congress President‏ Smt. Sonia Gandhi

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Admin

Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep anguish over the havoc caused by a cyclonic storm in north eastern Bihar.

With reports of casualties and damages yet coming in, Smt. Gandhi expressed the hope that the extent of the same is limited.

She has asked the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee and the Frontal organisations of the AICC to take a thorough stock of the situation and do every thing possible for providing immediate relief and succor to the affected people.

Rahul Gandhi speaks for Net Neutrality in Parliament

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Admin

Making an intervention during the Zero Hour on Wednesday Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Net Neutrality. He said: “Every citizen should have the right to internet. Government wants to sell even the internet to big Corporates.”

He further said, “One million people have registered to fight for net neutrality. Youth have voted, they are asking on Twitter, Facebook and all other platforms. They are fighting for Net Neutrality and this government wants to carve out the net and hand it over to some Corporates.”

“I would request the government to please stop the TRAI consultation and to look into changing the law or writing a law for Net Neutrality.”

Rahul Gandhi said he wants to ask the BJP-government a simple question: If the government really wanted to protect Net Neutrality, then why did they start the TRAI consultation process in the first place? “I will tell you why. This consultation process is like a trial balloon to see the reaction of people. Their thinking is, if the reaction is not strong then go ahead with the policy. That’s why we are giving a strong reaction so that they step back,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Commenting on the recent Time magazine article by President Barack Obama in which he praised Prime Minister Shri Modi, the Congress Vice President said, “US President Barack Obama wrote an extensive article in Time magazine on our Prime Minister, where he praised Modi ji. World’s biggest industries are in America. In the last 60-years this is the first time a US President has praised an Indian Prime Minister. American Presidents used to praise Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev because he had helped US.”

Later, while addressing media outside the house, Rahul Gandhi explained his remarks again, “I quoted the example of Gorbachev (the last leader of the Soviet Union) because the then US President had showered praise on Gorbachev, for helping America’s cause. The then US President had also praised Yeltsin after he privatised all (State owned) companies of Russia.”

But a bigger issue, the Congress Vice President stressed, is that of Net Neutrality. “BJP’s Corporate-Sarkar is snatching the land of farmers, labourers & tribals. I am fighting for that, the Congress party is fighting for that. I had thought the interests of internet users, and the youth, who had supported Modi ji (during elections), would be protected. But what is happening? Like they snatched land, they are now taking away the internet too.”

“Net Neutrality means every single youth, every single person, should have unrestricted access to internet. But the BJP government wants to hand over the internet to Corporates. This will affect the youth of our country.”

Press Release