On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading "false information" and misleading farmers regarding India's trade agreements with the US, UK, and the EU, asserting that the government has fully protected the country's agriculture and dairy sectors.
He dismissed the Congress's allegations that trade agreements would harm Indian farmers.
"When Rahul Gandhi, as a Congress leader, talks about protecting farmers in Parliament, it seems like a joke. The Congress has a history of misleading the country, and now they are spreading lies about trade deals," Shah said.
He was addressing a gathering in Gandhinagar after launching India's first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Public Distribution System.
He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has ensured full protection of farmers' interests in every agreement.
Shah stated that Rahul Gandhi is spreading false information that trade deals with the European Union, England, and America will damage farmers and end the dairy sector. He assured farmers that their interests are fully protected in all agreements signed by PM Modi.
He pointed out that during the previous regime, agreements detrimental to Indian agriculture were signed, but PM Modi reversed such provisions as soon as he assumed office in 2014.
Shah also refuted Gandhi's claims that the agreements would destroy India's dairy sector, stating that the dairy sector has been fully protected in all agreements.
He challenged Gandhi to publicly debate the issue.
After a phone conversation between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump, both sides recently announced a reduction of US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.
Last month, India and the European Union (EU) concluded negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA).
Defending the trade agreements, Shah said, "These agreements will give our agricultural produce and fishermen's products access to world markets. At the same time, farmers' interests have been protected. The BJP and PM Modi can never compromise with farmers' interests," he asserted.
Shah said the Congress had spoken of "garibi hatao" but failed to take concrete steps to eradicate poverty, while PM Modi provided houses, gas connections, toilets, drinking water, free foodgrains, and health insurance of Rs 5 lakh.
"In 10 years, 27 crore people have been lifted above the poverty line," he stated, adding that today, 81 crore people are receiving free foodgrains in a transparent manner.
Comparing 10 years of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA rule and a decade of the Modi government, Shah said, "We have procured 15 times more foodgrains from farmers at MSP."
During the Congress government, the budget allocation for farmers was around Rs 26,000 crore. Under PM Modi, it has been increased to over Rs 1.29 lakh crore, said Shah.
"You misled farmers by giving a loan waiver only once in 70 years. For the last 10 years, Modi ji has been directly transferring Rs 6,000 every year into the bank accounts of farmers so that they do not need to depend on loans," he highlighted.
After launching India's first CBDC-based PDS and inaugurating a 'Grain ATM' facility, Shah said both initiatives would ensure complete transparency and eliminate corruption in foodgrain distribution. A "very big reform" was taking place in the field of food distribution and food security, he added.
He expressed confidence that the CBDC-based system would be implemented across all states in the coming years, strengthening food security and safeguarding the rights of the poor.
Shah said that in several remote and aspirational districts, including in the North East and other backward regions, 5 kg of foodgrains per person often did not reach beneficiaries.
"People of those regions did not even know that Modi ji was sending 5 kilograms of foodgrains from Delhi for them. Somewhere in the system, the grains were siphoned off. Now no one will be able to interfere. Through a fully digital system, every beneficiary will get their rightful share," he said.
Shah expressed happiness that Gujarat, particularly his parliamentary constituency, had been chosen for launching this pilot project.
"This will ensure that every poor citizen gets rations such as wheat, rice, pulses, oil, salt and sugar in a fully transparent manner. There will be no place for middlemen," he said.
Just as Direct Benefit Transfer introduced by the Modi government eliminated leakages worth over Rs 15 lakh crore, this new step would ensure a transparent distribution system across the country, Shah said.
Using 'Annapurti' Grain ATMs, PDS beneficiaries in Gujarat will receive one kg packets of toor dal, chana, salt and sugar through automated machines 24X7.
Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi said that after Gujarat, the government is committed to implementing the CBDC-based PDS in Chandigarh, Puducherry and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and gradually across the entire country.
