Ahmedabad, July 8 (IANS) The Gujarat unit of Congress on Wednesday accused the Central and state governments of failing farmers and of inadequate preparedness for the monsoon, calling for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations with a legal guarantee for minimum support prices and demanding an inquiry into pre-monsoon works following heavy rainfall across parts of the state.

Addressing a press conference, General Secretary and state in-charge Mukul Wasnik alleged that the Union government had not fulfilled its promises to farmers despite repeated assurances during elections.

“The Modi government has been continuously misleading farmers. During elections, farmers are given big promises regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP), but these are forgotten once the elections are over,” Wasnik said.

He added that while the government had honoured agricultural scientist Dr M.S. Swaminathan with the ‘Bharat Ratna’, it had not implemented the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation of providing farmers with prices that include a profit over the cost of production.

“Farmers in Gujarat were facing multiple challenges, including the absence of remunerative prices, rising cultivation costs, increasing prices of fertilisers, seeds and pesticides, crop losses, inadequate compensation, shortcomings in the crop insurance scheme, and issues related to irrigation and electricity,” he claimed.

He said the Congress had urged the Centre to implement the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations with a legal guarantee, ensure fair prices for agricultural produce and take immediate measures in the interest of farmers.

Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Chavda also criticised the BJP government over the situation that followed the first spell of heavy monsoon rain in the state, alleging that claims of development and pre-monsoon preparedness had not matched conditions on the ground.

“The BJP government’s claims of development, pre-monsoon preparedness and corruption-free governance have all been exposed by the first heavy rains,” Chavda said.

Referring to the situation in Surat, Chavda said heavy rainfall over the past two days had disrupted normal life, with residential areas inundated, traders reporting financial losses and vehicles damaged.

“Nine people had died in separate rain-related incidents, and the incidents reflected administrative failure and inadequate planning,” he alleged.

The Congress demanded that relief and rescue operations continue in all affected areas, that compensation and special assistance be provided to the families of those who died, and that losses suffered by affected families, traders and small industries be surveyed and compensated.

The party also sought a time-bound, high-level inquiry into expenditure, tenders, and the execution of pre-monsoon works, along with action against officials, contractors, and agencies found responsible for any negligence or irregularities.

–IANS

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