Lok Sabha Proceedings during the Budget Session of the Parliament in New Delhi on March 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Lok Sabha on Friday (March 21, 2025) passed the Demands for Grants of various Ministries for 2025-26, approving expenditure of more than ₹50 lakh crore.
The House passed the Demands for Grants by applying the guillotine, which means the funds for the Ministries it (guillotine) is applied on are considered approved without a discussion.
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The Lower House also passed the Appropriation Bill (3), 2025, moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha debated the Demands for Grants of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare for about four hours. Replying to the debate, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Narendra Modi government has spent ₹22.38 lakh crore on procurement of farm produce at minimum support price (MSP) and the procurement formula ensured that farmers earned 50% profits over their cost of production.
Asserting that a 5% growth in agriculture is a “miraculous achievement”, Mr. Chouhan said, “Our government is fully committed to farmers’ welfare… The BJP’s vision is to serve farmers and we consider it akin to worshipping God”.
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During the debate, several Opposition MPs raised the issue of police action against protesting farmers on Punjab-Haryana borders and the possible impact of India allowing imports of U.S. agriculture and dairy products.
Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress MP, Charanjit Singh Channi also raised concern over the government’s position on slashing import duties on grains.
“America’s President has openly stated they would impose reciprocal taxes and that India agreed to lower import duties on grains. If that is the case, what will happen to our country’s agricultural produce?” Mr Channi asked.
The Congress MP also deplored the police action on farmers on the Punjab border and accused the BJP of betraying the farmers by failing to fulfil its promise on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and suppressing the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
“The government asked the protesting farmer leaders to withdraw their hunger strike, promising negotiations. But while they held meetings, the police were being prepared to dismantle the agitation. How can there be trust when the farmers are called for talks but then forcibly removed at night?” Mr. Channi asked, referring to the action by the Punjab Police.
Hitting back, Mr. Chouhan asked, “Have we been friends with Aam Admi Party? You were walking arm-in-arm till the Lok Sabha elections. You were together and you are accusing us”.
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also condemned the government’s handling of the protests, citing distress among farmers under the BJP-led government. “In the past 10 years, over a lakh farmers have committed suicide. Three farm laws were introduced and, despite the Opposition labelling them as ‘black laws’, the government refused to listen. Farmers endured extreme weather and staged month-long protests, during which 750 of them were martyred. Till today, not a single family of those farmers has received compensation,” he said.
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Drawing a parallel between colonial rule and the treatment of farmers, Congress MP Jai Prakash said the government using force to suppress protests was unacceptable.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP T.M. Selvaganapathi said, ”Even U.S. President Donald Trump has said India agreed to the U.S. conditions. Mexico, China and even European countries are resisting but we have become spineless. This will be a death knell for our farmers”.
The DMK MP said the Centre was seeking to reverse India’s long-standing policy of reducing dependence on the U.S. wheat imports. “Thanks to the Green Revolution led by our forefathers, especially M.S. Swaminathan and Dr. C. Subramaniam, India overcame its dependence on PL-480 wheat imports from the US. But now, the government is reversing that trend,” he charged.
NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Amol Ramsing Kolhe pointed to the disparity between the U.S. and the Indian farmers, particularly in soybean production. “After the change of power in the U.S., they are demanding that India open its agriculture market. This poses a major crisis for our farmers but the government has not given any clarity on this matter,” Mr. Kolhe said.
Published – March 21, 2025 09:48 pm IST
