Opposition criticizes government for neglecting farmers' needs

Opposition MPs in Lok Sabha criticized the government on Friday for neglecting farmers during the Budget discussions. They expressed concerns while debating the agriculture ministry's funding proposal. Reports about duty-free imports of US agriculture and dairy products were also a major point of contention, with fears that this could harm Indian farmers. SP MP Dharmendra Yadav accused the government of favoring industrialists. He pointed out that loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore had been waived for them, while farmers were denied similar relief. He called the Budget's allocation for the agriculture ministry disappointing, claiming it only received 2.7% of the total Budget. Congress MP Jai Prakash highlighted the plight of farmers during protests, stating over 700 lost their lives. He warned that the government should not push controversial farm laws, comparing their actions to British colonial oppression. DMK MP TM Selvaganapathi criticized the government for changing policies that reduced reliance on US wheat imports. He warned against the implications of allowing duty-free imports from the US. Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi echoed these concerns, questioning the impact of lowering import duties on Indian agriculture.