NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused previous governments of misleading farmers on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) issue, asserting that his government had consistently prioritised farmers’ welfare, empowerment and financial security.
Addressing a public gathering in Banaskantha, Gujarat, during his two-day visit to the state, Modi said his government had taken several steps to strengthen agriculture and improve the financial position of farmers. He also reflected on his years in public service, stating, “It has been 25 years since I began serving you.”
The Prime Minister released the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme, involving around ₹19,000 crore for farmers across the country. Describing farmers as *annadatas*, Modi said they were among the strongest pillars of India and that their welfare remained central to the government’s policies.
He said the country’s agriculture budget had increased more than five-fold compared with 2013-14. He also highlighted the role of PM-KISAN in supporting crores of small farmers, adding that the latest instalment had brought financial assistance directly into farmers’ bank accounts.
Modi also launched a sharp attack on Opposition parties, accusing them of spreading rumours and creating panic amid the ongoing war in Iran. He alleged that while India was coming together to deal with the possible consequences of the conflict, Opposition leaders were attempting to exploit the situation to target his government.
The Prime Minister said farmers had also been misled and frightened over the availability of fertilisers. He accused his political opponents of wanting to see the country in difficulty and alleged that their intention was to create chaos and damage his reputation.
The remarks came amid concerns over the potential impact of the Iran conflict on energy supplies, supply chains and the availability of essential commodities. The government has stressed the importance of coordination and preparedness in dealing with the possible fallout.
Earlier, Modi visited the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC) and its Embryo Transfer Technology-In Vitro Fertilisation laboratory in Banaskantha. Spread across 127 acres at Bhildi, the centre focuses on the Kankrej cattle breed, genetic improvement and advanced reproductive technologies. It is expected to accelerate breed improvement significantly.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were present during the visit. Women at the cattle farm also raised slogans of “Modi nahi jayenge” during a group photograph with the Prime Minister.
During the visit, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth more than ₹14,000 crore across Gujarat.
The projects include two Bio-CNG plants operated by Banas Dairy at Tharad and Radhanpur, with capacities to process 75 and 100 metric tonnes of cattle dung per day, respectively. He also announced Ahmedabad Metro extensions covering the airport and GIFT City, along with the widening of Ahmedabad-Mehsana Road from four lanes to eight lanes at an estimated cost of ₹2,600 crore.
The programme also includes 4,030 new child-friendly Anganwadi centres and the inauguration of 361 completed centres, with an investment of ₹800 crore. The initiative is expected to benefit more than four lakh people.
Additionally, 521 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, involving a total project cost of around ₹4,950 crore, were dedicated to the nation. These projects include cold storage facilities, warehouses, silos, cold chains, greenhouses and integrated processing facilities.
Other initiatives include an expanded potato-processing plant at Sanadar, an automated storage and retrieval system for ultra-high-temperature products at Palanpur, and the flagging off of the Ahmedabad (Sabarmati)-Varanasi Express and Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU train services.
