Fund for farmers was due month ago, PM Modi did no special favour: Congress

The Congress on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did no special favours to farmers by releasing the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi fund, which was due to them a month ago but delayed by the model code of conduct in place during the recent Lok Sabah elections.

Congress MP and general-secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the release of the 17th instalment of funds, which Modi is touting as the first decision of his new government, is the legitimate entitlement due to farmers, according to his government policy.

If he is genuinely concerned about farmers, the prime minister should grant legal status to a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce, announce a farm loan waiver, and provide guaranteed insurance payment directly into their bank accounts, he said.

Taking charge as prime minister for the third term, Modi on Monday signed his first file authorising the release of the 17th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi fund, amounting to nearly Rs 20,000 crore, which will benefit around 9.3 crore farmers.

After signing on the release of the fund, Modi said, "Ours is a government fully committed to kisan kalyan (farmers' welfare). It is, therefore, fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to it. We want to keep working even more for farmers and the agriculture sector in the times to come."

Ramesh alleged that the prime minister made a "great show" of signing his first file upon taking office, granting the 17th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi funds.

"Aap chronology samajhiye: The 16th instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi was due in January 2024 but was delayed by a month for the prime minister's electoral calculus… The 17th instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi was due in April/May 2024 but was delayed by the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct," he said in a post on X.

"The one-third Pradhan Mantri has done nobody a great favour by signing this file: these are legitimate entitlements due to farmers according to his government's own policy. He has made a habit of converting routine administrative decisions into some great bonanza that he is bestowing upon the people. Clearly, he still thinks of himself as not biological but divine," the Congress leader added.

Ramesh said if the prime minister is genuinely concerned about farmers' welfare, he should do five things for them.

"Sahi Daam: Legal status to MSP, according to the Swaminathan Commission's formula. Karz Mukti: There will be a farm loan waiver, and a Permanent Commission will be set up to effectively implement it," he said.

"Beema Bhugtan ka Seedha Transfer: Guaranteed insurance payment straight to the bank account within 30 days of crop loss. Uchit Aayat-Niryaat Neeti: Farmers will be consulted to set up a new import-export policy. GST-mukt Kheti: No more GST on essential inputs for farming," the Congress general-secretary said.