Rajkot, Oct 22 Congress’ Gujarat in-charge Randeep Surjewala on Thursday demanded that the BJP government in the state declare a drought in Saurashtra and other parts, waive crop loans, and pay higher compensation for land affected by power transmission lines.
Holding a press conference here, the Rajya Sabha member also said that the alleged “vote-chori” (theft of votes) was not a BJP versus Congress issue but it concerned the country’s democratic foundations.
Several districts in Saurashtra received significantly less rainfall this year and farmers were facing heavy losses in cotton and groundnut crops, Surjewala said.
“There is a severe drought situation in entire Gujarat and in Saurashtra in particular,” he said, claiming that Devbhumi Dwarka received 84 per cent below normal rainfall, while Porbandar and Jamnagar districts recorded 67 per cent and 50 per cent rain deficiency, respectively.
But the BJP government informed the Legislative Assembly recently that it would not declare a drought or provide relief to farmers, industries and the general public, he said.
Speaking about the water scarcity in Dwarka, Surjewala claimed that drinking water was supplied for barely half an hour during a 72-hour period. The water stock in Rajkot could run out in 48 hours if more water was not released from the Narmada project, he said.
The Bhadar dam had only 20 per cent water left while other reservoirs in the region were also facing low storage levels, the Congress leader said.
He demanded a special crop survey across Saurashtra to assess losses and provide compensation.
Surjewala also demanded crop loan waivers or rescheduling of repayments, fresh credit for the next crop cycle, and financial assistance for purchasing seeds and fertiliser.
The relief measures should be rolled out within 30 days, he said.
Referring to the cotton and groundnut farmers, Surjewala questioned the Centre’s approach to Minimum Support Price (MSP), claiming that it was not accepting the Gujarat government’s recommendations.
He also expressed concern over the condition of small and medium industries, particularly the ceramic sector in Morbi, stating that businesses were facing a crisis and employment opportunities for the young people in Rajkot and the wider Saurashtra region were shrinking.
On the issue of power transmission lines, Surjewala said the Congress supported Gujarat’s ambition to become a major solar power hub but opposed a system where companies benefited at the expense of farmers whose land was affected.
Referring to a transmission line running from Khavda in Kutch to Halvad in Morbi, he claimed that farmers received inadequate compensation for the land used for tower installations and that beneath transmission lines.
The Congress MP demanded compensation equivalent to 400 per cent of the value of the land used for installing towers and 100 per cent of the value of the land beneath transmission lines.
He also sought an annual payment of Rs 30,000 to affected farmers for 25 years, arguing that the restrictions imposed on land beneath transmission lines could prevent construction and other activities, reducing its economic value.
Citing an example from Haryana during the Congress regime, Surjewala said farmers were entitled to an annual payment for a specified period in addition to compensation for acquired land.
Such payments recognised the long-term impact of land acquisition on farmers and their families, Surjewala said.
Talking about the Opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”, he said it was not merely a Congress-versus-BJP dispute but concerned the country’s democratic foundations.
“While Independence meant freedom from British rule, self-rule ensured every citizen’s right to vote, unlike the earlier system in which voting rights were linked to land ownership and women were excluded,” he said.
The Constitution, the Congress leader said, ensured that no individual was supreme and that governments and institutions remained bound by its provisions.
“The theft of votes is an assault on these three things. The Congress is fighting to protect freedom, self-rule and the Constitution, the principles for which Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had fought,” he added.
(PTI News)
