A sharp political confrontation has erupted in Gujarat over the agrarian situation in the Saurashtra region. The opposition Congress party has demanded an official drought declaration and immediate financial packages, citing severe water shortages, erratic rainfall, and power supply issues. In response, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the claims as politically motivated, stating that ground assessments are underway in affected districts and state relief mechanisms remain active.
Congress Allegations & Demands
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala outlined key concerns regarding farm distress in rural Saurashtra:
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Official Drought Declaration: Called on the state government to formally declare drought-affected zones in Saurashtra to trigger immediate compensation packages and safety nets for farmers.
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Power & Irrigation Failures: Highlighted frequent power outages on agricultural feeders that prevent farmers from operating tube wells during critical crop stages. He also claimed key projects like the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) scheme remain incomplete at tail-end farms.
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Economic Strain: Pointed to rising input costs, mounting agricultural debts, and delays in crop insurance disbursements affecting small and marginal farmers.
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Protest Warning: Warned of upcoming state-wide farmer rallies and agitations across districts like Morbi and Rajkot if loan waivers, guaranteed power, and relief measures are not delivered.
BJP Government’s Defense
Gujarat BJP Chief Spokesperson Anil Patel rejected the opposition’s claims, asserting that the state administration is actively managing the situation:
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Survey Underway: Clarified that the official monsoon period extends through October 15 and that lower rainfall was limited to only two to three specific districts, where official survey teams are currently assessing potential crop damage.
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Track Record of Relief: Stated that between 2016 and 2026, the BJP administration has issued financial relief packages 16 to 17 times—totaling over ₹10,000 crore for unseasonal rain damages.
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Central & State Support: Noted that the Centre has disbursed over ₹70,000 crore to Gujarat’s farmers under the PM-KISAN Nidhi scheme alongside zero-interest agricultural credit policies.
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Active Monitoring: Confirmed that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s administration and senior cabinet committees are continuously reviewing electricity and water distribution across all agricultural zones.
Current Outlook: As official survey teams evaluate ground-level crop yields, Congress is preparing for grassroot protests while the state government maintains that targeted relief interventions will follow administrative reviews.
