Security of Bengal’s farmers, who produce crops on 68 per cent of the state’s whole geographical space, emerged as a political concern on Friday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whereas addressing the nation’s farmers in a dwell telecast, accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of playing politics over the farmer’s agitation in Punjab.

Without naming the 2 political events in his lengthy speech, the PM stated, “Parties that have been rejected by the people are now conspiring.”

Migration of jobless individuals from Bengal, the place farming can not assist all households, has been a raging concern because the Covid-19 pandemic began.

“Look at the state government. It sees politics in welfare schemes and stops 70 lakh farmers from receiving central aid. It goes to Punjab and hobnobs with people who are misleading farmers,” stated Modi.

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Directing his assault on the CPI(M) and the federal government it runs in Kerala, the prime minister stated, “People who ruled Bengal for 30 years have not even once staged an agitation in the state demanding implementation of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Yojana. Why didn’t you raise your voice? Instead, you reached Punjab to pose for selfies. This raises questions.”

Reacting to PM Modi’s allegation, chief minister Mamata Banerjee issued a press release within the night.

“Since you have raised questions on my ideology and commitment to the people of Bengal, let me remind you that my ideology is consistent with the vision of the founding fathers of the country and I have wholeheartedly served the people of West Bengal with the right intent, efforts and with everything I have,” wrote Banerjee.

Banerjee additionally accused the prime minister of exhibiting concern for the agitating farmers by way of a televised tackle “instead of proactively working to resolve their issues.”

“Was this a PM’s speech? He was addressing farmers of the country but singled out Bengal and Kerala. Why?” stated TMC Lok Sabha member and occasion spokesperson Saugata Roy.

By concentrating on the TMC and the Marxists, Modi apparently redefined the battle line in ballot-certain Bengal since most of the agricultural inhabitants depends on farming or farm-based mostly enterprise.

According to the 2011 census, Bengal’s inhabitants stood at 9.13 crore. It is projected to succeed in 10.19 crore in 2021. The census confirmed that round 68.13 per cent of the inhabitants lives in villages of rural areas the place the literacy fee was 72.13 per cent in 2011.

According to the Bengal authorities’s information, the online cropped space is 52.05 lakh hectares which comprise 68 per cent of the geographical space of the state and 92 per cent of arable land.

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Barely 24 hours earlier than PM Modi’s speech, Mamata Banerjee had introduced that her authorities would arrange an agro-based mostly industrial park at Singur in Hooghly district, the place her lengthy agitation in opposition to acquisition of multi-crop land for the Tata small automobile manufacturing facility helped her oust the CPI(M) authorities in 2011. The Tata Group moved the mission to Gujarat.

Defending the Singur agitation, Roy stated, “We opposed the Tata project not just politically but moved the court as well.”

“We are not doing any politics in Punjab. The farmers are on protest and opposition parties are urging the Cente to scrap the new farm laws. Modi deviated from this main issue today to mislead people,” stated Roy.

“Our government has so far spent Rs 2,642 crore to give Rs 5,000 per acre annually to 47 lakh farmers. Modi is only talking about Rs 6,000 under PMKSY. We will give it to farmers if it is routed through the state. We cannot let the BJP reap political benefit to buy votes,” Roy added.

When identified that PM Modi particularly stated that Bengal farmers are writing to him, in search of assist beneath PMKSY, Roy stated, “Has there been any farmers’ agitation in Bengal in 10 years? They have no complaints. The government collects rice from them on time paying the minimum support price. Bengal farmers have tripled their average income since 2011. The Centre can achieve that not before 2028.”

Hoping to seek out the CPI(M) by the TMC on this concern, Roy stated, “We have differences with the Left but we support the farmers’ cause. The two parties agree on issues such as communal politics. These (the PM’s speech) are diversionary tactics to weaken the movement.”

CPI(M) politburo member Md Salim summarily rejected the TMC’s assist to the farmers’ stir, calling it a lip service.

“Had the TMC been serious about the farm bills it would have convened a special winter session of the state assembly that we demanded. In 2014 and 2017, the TMC government introduced two similar bills in the state,” stated Salim.

“The TMC does not even have a farmers’ front. When we held kisan agitation and general strike on November 26 and December 18, the government opposed it. The police even resorted to baton charge on the agitators,” alleged Salim.

The BJP wished to take advantage of of the PM’s speech and held conferences in all neighborhood blocks of the state the place the dwell programme was screened at gatherings attended by occasion leaders.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh stated, “People in the state will enjoy the benefits of all central schemes when we come to power in a few months”.