The Communist party backed All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) state committee accused the ruling BJP led coalition government in Tripura and government at the centre and alleged on Thursday that the farmers are the worst sufferers due to the ‘anti-farmers’ policy of the government.
Addressing a press conference AIKS leader and also the former minister of the then Left government Pabitra Kar alleged, “During the last four years of the BJP government, the farmers in Tripura were left in the worst condition. The farmers are facing series of difficulties in producing their agricultural farming including paddy and vegetables.”
“Government had almost stopped dispatching seeds, fertilizers and other requirements for the farmers. Following this the farmers are bound to procure seedlings of different seasonal vegetables and paddy from the private firms at high cost,” he said, pointing out that due to lack of irrigation facility, the farmers in Tripura are unable to grow ‘boro’ paddy.
He also alleged that a group of miscreants are now high-necked across the state and especially in the sub-divisions to destroy vegetable and other agricultural farming.
The AIKS leader on Thursday alleged irregularities in MGNREGA scheme and stated, “The wages of REGA workers are not hiked, whereas the central government had hiked REGA wages for other states across the country.”
“During the financial year of 2022-23, the opening balance under the MGNREGA scheme was supposed to be Rs. 107 crore but, the centrally monitored web portal is showing the opening balance as Rs. 11 crore only. Where is the rest of the amount?” he asked and sought answers from the double-engine government.
He however claimed that the central government has been gradually decreasing fund allotment for the state of Tripura under the MGNREGA scheme.
Pabitra Kar had called upon the farmers across the state to strengthen their movement against the BJP government under the banner of AIKS, which had demanded the centre to repeal the three farm laws and accordingly the centre had acted upon. The AIKS had also demanded the centre to form law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) to stop farmers’ suicide across the country, he said.