V Sivadasan Accuses Centre of Pushing Rural India Into Crisis During Parliament Debate

V Sivadasan MP launched a sharp attack on the Government of India during a discussion in Parliament on the functioning of the Ministry of Rural Development, alleging that the Centre’s policies have pushed rural India into a deep crisis.

Speaking in the House, Sivadasan said the situation in villages across the country was deteriorating due to rising living costs, shrinking subsidies and inadequate support for farmers and workers. Criticising the government’s energy policies, he said subsidies for renewable energy initiatives had been reduced while people were encouraged to shift to LPG through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. According to him, the subsequent reduction in LPG subsidies has left rural households struggling with rising fuel prices.

Referring to the recent global developments following the US-Israel strike on Iran, the MP said international tensions had also contributed to a steep rise in LPG prices in the country, worsening the burden on ordinary families. He questioned what tangible benefit India had gained from the close relationship between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump.

Sivadasan claimed that thousands of small eateries in villages had shut down due to rising costs and economic distress, forcing many families to migrate to cities in search of work. However, he said migrant labourers often faced poor living conditions and lack of basic facilities even in major urban centres.

Highlighting labour issues, he cited incidents involving sanitation workers, including a recent manhole accident in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where two workers died. He also pointed to reports of deaths caused by contaminated water in the same city, arguing that such incidents reflected systemic failures by the BJP led NDA government in addressing basic public services.

The MP said farmers were facing increasing difficulties sustaining their livelihoods as the agricultural sector struggles with multiple challenges. He accused the government of ignoring rural distress while prioritising corporate interests.

In a strongly worded remark, Sivadasan said: “Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi. Today, those who follow his ideology are destroying people-centric schemes introduced in Gandhi’s name.”

He also raised concerns over the growing impact of wildlife attacks on farmers and rural communities. Citing a 2025 study in Maharashtra, he said annual agricultural losses caused by wildlife could range between ₹10,000 crore and ₹40,000 crore, while compensation provided to farmers accounts for barely one percent of the total losses.

According to figures mentioned in his speech, wildlife attacks have also caused significant loss of life, including 239 deaths due to tiger attacks in Maharashtra, 59 deaths in Uttar Pradesh, and around 650 fatalities linked to elephant attacks in Odisha.

Sivadasan urged the Centre to prioritise the needs of farmers, rural workers and the poor rather than focusing primarily on corporate profits. He said government policy should be aimed at protecting livelihoods and addressing the real challenges faced by people in rural India.