By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Jeetu Patwari on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the State, alleging neglect of farmers, youth and the common people. Addressing a press conference, he said the most distressed sections today were farmers and young people, who had been completely ignored by BJP policies.
Patwari expressed serious concern over a recent statement by the US Agriculture Secretary regarding an India–US trade deal, under which agricultural products imported from the US would attract zero tariff in India, while Indian farm produce exported to the US would face taxes of up to 18 per cent. He questioned the silence of India’s Agriculture Minister on the issue and asked under whose pressure the government was functioning.
He recalled that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had earlier warned that such a trade deal would be detrimental to India and claimed the warning had now proved correct. Patwari said farmers were not receiving remunerative prices or assured procurement at MSP, pushing agriculture into deep crisis.
On the State’s finances, he alleged that state government had taken unprecedented loans, with Madhya Pradesh’s debt rising by about Rs 213 crore per day. He accused the government of selling State assets to service debt, calling it a sign of economic mismanagement.
Patwari also flagged unpaid salaries, stalled payments to guest teachers and alleged misuse of public funds to block OBC reservation. He demanded a white paper on the State’s finances and sought the dismissal of ministers allegedly responsible for recent deaths, asserting that the Congress would continue to fight on behalf of the people.
