Tripura Congress slams BJP’s agricultural policies, citing unfulfilled promises, low MSP growth, and pro-corporate decisions. Leaders demand Swaminathan report implementation, better farmer support, and rural reforms. Local issues like low wages and flood compensation in Tripura add to farmer distress. Urgent government action is called for.
The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee’s farmers’ wing has launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central and state governments, accusing them of betraying India’s farming community through broken promises and policy failures. Speaking at a press conference held at the Pradesh Congress headquarters in Agartala, party spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty delivered a scathing critique of the Modi government’s handling of agricultural issues both in Tripura and across the country.
Chakraborty argued that while the BJP has made grand declarations to support the agricultural sector, very little has translated into meaningful change on the ground. “The government talks big, but farmers are still suffering. The promises remain just that—promises,” he said.
Central to Chakraborty’s criticism was the Modi government’s failure to implement the key recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, formed 19 years ago under the UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh. The commission, chaired by eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, had recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops be calculated using the C2+50% formula. This formula accounts for the total cost of production—including labor, interest on loans, and land use—plus a 50% profit margin.
Chakraborty recalled the mass farmer protests that erupted across India in 2020–21 in response to the Modi government’s three contentious farm laws. The protests, which saw thousands of farmers camped on the outskirts of Delhi for months, eventually forced the government to repeal the laws. At the time, the BJP government also committed to implementing the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations and to removing Goods and Services Tax (GST) on agricultural products. “It’s been five years, and none of those promises have been fulfilled,” Chakraborty lamented.
Despite the Union Budget for 2025–26 allocating Rs 2.07 lakh crore for Kharif crop procurement, Chakraborty claimed that the amount does not reflect the actual cost of production. He also criticized the sluggish growth of MSP under Modi’s rule, citing official data indicating that support prices for essential crops have increased at a significantly slower pace compared to the UPA era.
“Farmers are being short-changed. While they shoulder the burden of food security for the nation, they’re not even receiving fair compensation for their produce,” he said.
Chakraborty further accused the Modi government of favoring corporate interests at the expense of small and marginal farmers. He highlighted recent trade policies that reduced tariffs on imported dairy and dry fruit products from the U.S., warning that such moves could destabilize domestic agricultural markets.
He also contrasted the Modi administration’s inaction on agricultural loan waivers with the UPA-era decision to write off Rs 3.5 lakh crore in farm and cottage industry loans. “Even today, 31 farmers are dying by suicide every day due to financial stress. This is a national emergency, and yet it’s being ignored,” he said.
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Chakraborty and other Congress leaders highlighted pressing agricultural challenges specific to Tripura. Farmers in the state continue to face low daily wages, averaging around Rs 227, and receive inadequate compensation for flood damages. Additionally, those living near the India-Bangladesh border are restricted by BSF regulations that limit their access to cultivable land.
The Congress leaders called for urgent government action to improve irrigation, land access, and fair pricing for Tripura’s farmers. They also demanded enhanced mobility for border-area residents to ensure sustainable rural livelihoods.
The Pradesh Congress farmers’ wing accused the BJP governments—both at the center and in Tripura—of relying on propaganda and flashy advertising campaigns to hide the grim realities of Indian agriculture. Chakraborty concluded by urging the authorities to abandon corporate appeasement and focus instead on long-term, people-centered rural development.
“The time for slogans is over. The farmers of this country need policies, not publicity,” he asserted.
