Congress indifference to blame for plight of farmers, PM Modi says in Assam

“Our government is working day and night, keeping the interests of farmers paramount. Here, all of you are receiving the benefits of farmer-friendly schemes. Amidst the agricultural welfare schemes, it is also important that our farmers continue to get a continuous supply of fertilisers,” he said.

This urea plant is meant to ensure just that, he said.

“About Rs 11 thousand crore will be spent on this fertiliser project. More than 12 lakh metric tons of fertiliser will be produced here every year. When production takes place here, supply will be faster and logistics costs will decrease,” Modi said.

Referring to local employment, the prime minister said the unit will create “thousands of employment opportunities”.

Stating that earlier fertiliser units in Namrup had shut down due to outdated technology and alleging “indifference” by Congress governments, he said: “Farmers across the entire northeast region suffered, and farmers throughout the country also faced difficulties; their incomes were negatively impacted, and farming became increasingly challenging.”

Claiming that fertiliser factories across different states had shut down, he said: “Do you remember the plight of the farmers back then? Farmers had to stand in long queues for urea. Police had to be deployed at urea shops. The police used to lathi-charge farmers.”

His government was “making every effort to improve the conditions which were worsened by the Congress”, he said.

“And they did it so badly, so badly that, even after working hard for 11 years, I still have much more to do… our government has started many plants at places like Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni, Ramagundam. The private sector is also being encouraged in this field. Today, as a result of this, we are taking strong steps in the direction of becoming self-reliant in the field of urea in the near future,” he said.

Stating that in 2014 the country’s annual urea production stood at 225 lakh metric tonnes, he said this has now increased to 306 lakh metric tonnes.

This year, there have been reports of urea shortages across states, with farmers in many places standing in long queues for hours to procure their minimum requirement. Fears over shortages have also triggered unrest in parts of Madhya Pradesh this month.

On Sunday, the second day of his Assam visit, Prime Minister Modi also visited the newly unveiled Swahid Smarak Kshetra memorial to participants in the Assam Agitation who were killed during the movement, known as ‘martyrs’.