The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly witnessed a heated confrontation on Thursday, culminating in the opposition Congress party staging a dramatic walkout. The protest was triggered by a dispute with the ruling treasury benches over the timely disbursement of financial compensation to farmers whose paddy crops were severely damaged due to excessive rainfall.
Congress Raises the Issue of Delayed Relief
The matter was forcefully raised in the House by Congress MLA from the Sheopur constituency, Babu Jandel. He presented a stark picture of the agricultural distress in his region, stating that crops belonging to a staggering 98,611 farmers were destroyed. Jandel emphasized that both the local administration and the state government had officially accepted the scale of this damage.
Expressing his frustration over the perceived delay, the Congress legislator posed a direct question to the government. "Eight days have passed," he demanded, "when will the money be sent to the farmers' accounts?" This query set the stage for a sharp exchange between the opposition and the ministers of the Mohan Yadav-led government.
Government's Counter on Compensation Figures
In response, the state's Minister for Revenue, Karan Singh Verma, presented the government's account of the relief efforts. Minister Verma argued that financial aid had already been processed and distributed. He stated that a sum of Rs 100.83 crore had been allocated for the crop damage spanning 99,529 hectares, directly benefiting all 98,611 affected farmers in Sheopur.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav further reinforced the government's stance. The CM asserted that in the Sheopur constituency, the compensation paid by his administration was four times the initially estimated damage to the crops. This claim was presented as evidence of the government's proactive and generous approach towards farmer welfare in the wake of the natural calamity.
Walkout and Political Implications
Unsatisfied with the explanations provided by the revenue minister and the chief minister, the Congress legislators deemed the response inadequate. Arguing that the assurances did not guarantee immediate and actual transfer of funds into the farmers' bank accounts, they proceeded to stage a walkout from the Assembly proceedings.
This political move highlights the ongoing tension in the state assembly and underscores the critical issue of agricultural relief, a sensitive topic in Madhya Pradesh. The incident puts the spotlight on the government's disaster management and compensation delivery mechanisms, especially for the agrarian community facing losses due to unpredictable weather patterns.
