No dispute with Haryana CM, but I'll keep raising people's issues: Rao Inderjit Singh

New Delhi, Oct 12 What's the central government's plan for the 100 most backward districts of the country? How true are rumours of differences between Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal. How effective will Rahul Gandhi's tractor rallies be in Haryana? Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh spoke candidly on all these subjects and more in a special interview with the . Edited excerpts:

Q: Congress President Rahul Gandhi is travelling to Haryana with the issue of farm bills. Many farmers organisations are also opposing them. In the light of all this, how do you view the government's bill as being pro-farmer?

A: This is the first time since the nation's independence, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government is re reaching to the farmers with assistance under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi plan. After country became free, the funds should have been disbursed much earlier. So far, the central government has distributed Rs 92,000 crore through this fund to more than 10.5 crore farmers in the country. During the Congress's tractor rally, the party must explain to people why it hasn't been able to disburse funds so far. The anti-farmer Congress had even refused to implement the Swaminathan Commission report in 2007. The Modi government has not just accepted the Swaminathan Commission, today farmers are getting the correct price for their produce. Compared to the Congress regime, the price of wheat that was Rs. 1400 in 2013-14 is Rs 1975 today. Mustard was Rs 3050 in 2013-14 and is Rs 4650 today. Paddy was Rs. 1310 earlier and is Rs. 1868 now. In the budget, where there was an increase of 8.5 per cent allocation for farmers during the Congress regime, the Modi government has already increased it by 38 per cent. The Congress had in the 2019 election manifesto talked about ending the MSP, but now it is opposing it. The new farm bills resolve to double the income of farmers. This legislation will help promote the concept of one nation one market.

Q: You are the Minister of State

( With inputs from IANS )