Amid Madhya Pradesh’s push to brand 2026 as a milestone for farmer upliftment, Congress state president Jitu Patwari unleashed a blistering critique, branding the efforts as a smokescreen for rampant rural distress. The remarks came in response to CM Dr. Mohan Yadav’s portrayal of the upcoming budget as farmer-centric, which Patwari debunked as superficial posturing.
Farmers, Patwari argued, are trapped in a nightmare of declining earnings against ballooning costs for essentials like fuel, fertilizers, seeds, chemicals, and electricity. Government pledges of field empowerment crumble under scrutiny, with procurement delays, poor storage, and market inequities driving indebtedness.
The leader hammered home the betrayal of unfulfilled vows to double incomes, now diluted into data manipulation. Turning to the grim toll of suicides among farmers and laborers from December 2023 to January 2026, he invoked NCRB statistics to demand detailed disclosures and evidence of interventions— from loan forgiveness to psychosocial support.
Patwari outlined a roadmap for genuine progress: Statutory MSP backing, widespread irrigation, no-interest farm loans, on-time payouts, and streamlined calamity aid. ‘Ditch the billboards for bold policies,’ he urged. With Congress poised to champion agrarian justice across forums, the fight against farmer neglect intensifies.