New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on the Modi government over the increasing number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra, accusing the administration of indifference and misplaced priorities. Citing alarming data, Gandhi highlighted that 767 farmers have taken their own lives in the state over the last three months.
“These are not just numbers,” Gandhi stated. “These are 767 families devastated forever. Homes destroyed, lives shattered – and yet the government remains silent.”
Rahul Gandhi took aim at the government’s focus on image-building. “This system is silently destroying the backbone of India — its farmers. And yet, Prime Minister Modi seems preoccupied with his own public relations campaign, watching everything like a spectator,” he concluded.
The Congress MP expressed deep concern over the rising cost of agricultural inputs. “Fertilizers, seeds, diesel – everything is getting more expensive. Farmers are drowning in debt, and yet there is no guarantee of a Minimum Support Price (MSP),” he said. He added that when farmers demand relief in the form of loan waivers, their pleas are met with apathy.
Gandhi accused the government of favouring the wealthy, pointing to a media report about alleged financial irregularities involving Anil Ambani. “Today’s news speaks of a ₹48,000 crore SBI fraud by Anil Ambani. For the rich, loans worth thousands of crores are written off easily. But the farmer, who feeds the nation, gets nothing but neglect,” he remarked.
He also questioned the Prime Minister’s earlier promise of doubling farmers’ income. “Prime Minister Modi had assured the country that farmers’ income would double. But the harsh reality is that the lives of farmers are being cut short instead. The condition of those who sustain our nation is worsening day by day,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi’s remarks underscore a growing frustration among the farming community. For years, farmers across the country have been battling erratic weather, rising input costs, and uncertain returns. Despite various schemes introduced by the Centre, including PM-KISAN and crop insurance initiatives, many farmers say these have not been enough to ease their financial burden.
The issue of MSP remains one of the most contentious in Indian agriculture. While the government maintains it is committed to supporting farmers, ground-level implementation and procurement continue to be inconsistent, leaving many producers vulnerable.
The statement comes at a time when the opposition has been increasingly vocal about agrarian distress, especially in states like Maharashtra, which has historically seen a high incidence of farmer suicides. With the country heading into another election season, issues such as rural distress, farm loan waivers, and the MSP regime are expected to feature prominently in political discourse.
While the central government has not responded directly to Gandhi’s latest remarks, the debate over farmer welfare continues to intensify across the nation.
