Congress has always betrayed farmers: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was in his government's time that there was a record purchase of food grains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit out at the Congress, accusing it of betraying farmers and said it was the BJP government which made record purchase of grains.

Addressing a rally here ahead of the February 20 Punjab assembly polls, Mr. Modi urged voters to bring the BJP-led alliance to power in the state for its all-round development.

The Prime Minister also slammed Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi for his remark on 'bhaiyas' from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, saying Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Ravidas too were born outside Punjab.

Referring to the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report, he said that it was his government which implemented them.

"History is witness that Congress has always betrayed farmers," Mr. Modi said.

"There was a demand for implementing the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report for several years but they continued to sit on the file. Congress governments only spoke lies," he said.

Mr. Modi said when his government was formed at the Centre, it implemented the recommendations of the commission.