New Delhi: After the land acquisition issue, Congress on Thursday upped the ante against the Centre over the plight of farmers affected by unseasonal rains and accused the Narendra Modi government of "hoodwinking" the farmers through "deceptive" relief packages.
"The Prime Minister is once again misleading, misguiding and hoodwinking the farmers of India by announcing deceptive relief packages without providing much needed help and succour to the distressed farmers," Congress spokesman C P Joshi said.
He said this has happened at a time when hailstorm and unprecedented rains have caused damage to nearly 180 lakh hectares (447 lakh acres) of Rabi crops in 14 states, with the cost of devastation running into Rs 40,000 crore.
"Alleged relaxation of percentage for crop damage and so-called enhancement of compensation by Modi yesterday is another cruel political gimmick to dupe and deceive gullible farmers," he said.
The Congress spokesman said relief for damaged crops has been restricted to a maximum of two hectares or five acres. "This will automatically deny benefit of compensation to over 50 per cent of cultivated crop area. As a double jeopardy, crop damaged area is being reduced manifold by the government," he claimed.
The Agriculture Ministry had yesterday said higher compensation announced by the Prime Minister would be provided to farmers in those states where Rabi crops were affected by recent hailstorms. An official press note, however, made no reference to rains in this regard.
