Putting his oratorical skills to the best use, Rashtriya Janata Dal MLC and Biscomaun Chairman Dr. Sunil Kumar Singh lambasted Bihar’s government led by Nitish Kumar for the plight of farmers in a debate during the state budget session.
“Farmers of the state are forced to buy bags of fertilizer at more than Rs 700 per bag. On several occasions even, the government officers at different districts have admitted to the plight of farmers”, he said.
The video of his speech has gone viral with co-operators from across states congratulating him for bringing the plight of farmers before the govt. “Primarily, he is a co-operator and he cannot overlook the interest of farming communities”, reacted many to his impressive speech.
Quoting govt officials’ reports and drawing from his own experience from the field, the senior co-operator put the govt in the dock. State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar heard him out with rapt attention, even while the Speaker kept on asking Sunil to wrap up his address sooner than later.
Sharing the facts and figures before the House, Singh said, in the last financial year for Rabi and Kharif season, 36 lakh metric tonnes of urea had been supplied to Bihar but in the current FY, it has been decreased to 26 lakh metric tonnes. This difference is enough to understand how serious the government is about the farmers, he said
training his guns towards the Chief Minister.
Singh also compared Bihar’s Budget with that of states like Odisha and West Bengal. “The Odisha comprises a population of about 4.76 crores and the state budget is 6.49 lakh crore whereas the West Bengal having a population of about 10.19 crore and the budget is 3.20 lakh crore whereas the total population of Bihar is 12.90 crore and the budget is only Rs 2.37 lakh crore”, he added tauntingly.
Singh also raised various issues related to agriculture, the fund spent on the Bihar Student Credit Scheme, the irrigation scheme, and the Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal scheme.
Meanwhile, several assembly members expressed their views on issues raised by him. One of the members said the West Bengal and Odisha governments are having a lot of debt in comparison to Bihar.
This is not the first time that Biscomaun Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh raised issues related to farmers and farming in the Vidhan Sabha. He had earlier also raised his voice against the plight of farmers.