Rahul, Harsimrat clash in Lok Sabha over Punjab farmers

New Delhi, Moments after the Union Cabinet relaxed compensation norms for farm procurement this morning, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre in Lok Sabha saying it was not doing enough for the distressed farmers. Rahul was speaking about Punjab, which he toured yesterday to assess the situation of farmers by himself.Making a Zero Hour reference on the issue, Rahul triggered sharp rebuttals from Union Minister and member of the ruling Akali Dal government in Punjab Harsimrat Kaur Badal who countered the Gandhi scion’s charge that the state government was apathetic to the cause of farmers.“You should concentrate on your own constituency Amethi,” Badal told Rahul leading to angry protests from Congress.TMC and Left leaders demanded that Badal’s “personal, anti-Rahul remarks be deleted from the proceedings”Earlier, Rahul attacked the PM on his foreign trips saying, “The PM is on his Indian visit these days. He should take time off to travel to Punjab and see the state of farmers himself.”The Congress leader took another swipe on the PM’s “make in India” push when he said, “Do farmers not make in India? Why are they being ignored? Is make in India only for rich industrialists?”Referring also to the statement by Haryana Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar that only cowards commit suicides, Rahul said, “Agriculture Minister in BJP ruled Haryana says cowards commit suicide. Your government is not doing enough for farmers. Farmers are grief stricken. I have told you earlier also that you will gain politically by helping them.”Rahul’s repeated “Your Government” reference invited a quick correction from Speaker Sumitra Majahan who told the young MP that since he was addressing the Treasury through her he can’t keep saying “Your Government”.You can say this Government, Speaker said with Rahul taking the point and saying, “Yes this is your government and my government but not the farmers’ government”. As the Amethi MP stepped up his attack on the Centre in PM’s absence, the House saw one adjournment after Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan intervened to counter Rahul’s charges on BJP being “anti-farmer”.The most caustic response to Rahul’s “anti-Punjab” reference came from Harsimrat Badal who took him on saying, “Where were you when farmers’ produce was being damaged in rains and hailstorm. You were away holidaying and have come back now to catch up with the farmers by visiting Punjab. The Punjab government has lifted majority farm produce already. You should visit your own constituency Amethi first.”Harsimrat’s rebuttal had Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge demand the deletion of her “Amethi remarks” against Rahul.“I will look at the remarks,” was all that the Speaker said adding that Ministers were free to respond to Zero Hour references. The BJP led by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, meanwhile, reminded the Congress MPs that their leader had himself personally attacked the PM.Speaker said she would assess both the statements for expunging – Badal’s statement against Rahul and Rahul’s statement against the PM.