Rao acknowledged the undeniable anger among farmers, attributing it in part to the way the previous ML Khattar-led government managed the crises. He pointed out that despite having numerous influential farmer leaders within the party, the decision was made to rely on central ministers for resolving the issues, a strategy that ultimately proved ineffective. Rao expressed concern that the farmers’ discontent would have repercussions in the upcoming elections, emphasizing that they are not merely ‘ann datas’ but also a crucial voter demographic, many of whom have children serving in the armed forces. He stressed the need for a more sensitive approach in dealing with their grievances. Despite the presence of many grassroots farmer leaders, including himself, the state government opted to engage with central officials who lacked a genuine connection to the farming community, which only exacerbated the situation. Rao noted that the repercussions of this mismanagement are evident today, as the unresolved resentment has allowed the Opposition to mislead the farmers. He remarked that while Haryana’s farmers are generally among the most satisfied, the handling of recent events has left them feeling disillusioned. Although the BJP has made significant strides in farmer welfare, these efforts have been overshadowed by the current discontent, and he believes that had local leaders been consulted, trust in the party would have been stronger.
Rao calls for better support and solutions for the agricultural community.
