Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Rice grains being winnowed on a paddy field. 
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Bhopal:

Seven years after then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserted that the roads in Madhya Pradesh are better than those in the United States, a minister from his party has taken a more cautious approach. 

Ahead of a seminar to discuss ways to improve the quality of road and bridge construction, Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh was asked about the various complaints being received about potholed roads as well as Mr Chouhan’s claim and he responded that his government does not want to talk in a way that is not practical. 

 “We don’t want to talk in a way which is impractical. Roads should be built well… we can’t say they should be better than America… but quality roads should be the focus. We follow the Indian Road Congress guidelines for road construction, and seminars are organised for such discussions,” Mr Singh said. 

Beginning on Saturday, a two-day brainstorming seminar will be held at the Ravindra Bhavan in Bhopal with the goal of improving the quality of road and bridge construction and ensuring the use of new technologies to build stronger infrastructure within deadlines. The seminar is being organised by the Indian Road Congress in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department and it will also be attended by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

In 2017, speaking at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Forum launch in Washington DC, Mr Chouhan, who was the longest-serving chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and is now the agriculture minister, had said, “When I landed at the airport in Washington and drove on the roads, I felt that Madhya Pradesh’s roads are better than the US… I am not saying this just for the sake of it.”

Mr Chouhan had also said that his government had constructed 1.75 lakh km of roads in Madhya Pradesh and connected all villages.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s car was stuck in a muddy pothole today in Jharkhand where he had gone for a public rally. In a video, the car Shivraj Chouhan was travelling in can be seen tilted and stuck in a large pothole on a waterlogged road amid rainfall. His security then rushes to the car, trying to assess the situation. At the end, Shivraj Chouhan is seen stepping out of the vehicle. 

#WATCH | Jharkhand | Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s car today got stuck in a muddy pothole amid rains today in Baharagora where he was for a public rally pic.twitter.com/ZYrZanee9K

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2024

According to news agency ANI, Shivraj Chouhan’s car got stuck in Jharkhand’s Baharagora town. He is BJP’s Jharkhand election in-charge and was there to campaign for the party for the upcoming state assembly polls. 

While addressing a public rally today as it rained, Shivraj Chouhan drew an analogy between the dark clouds and the state’s ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party, saying, “Just as clouds have come as a crisis, Hemant Soren government is a bigger crisis than these clouds…This is not JMM but ‘Jurm, Murder and Mafia’ government run by Hemant Soren.”

“The clouds are raining, lightning is flashing, and it is raining heavily, but still you are determined to bring about a change… Seeing this, today I can say that the darkness will fade away, the sun will rise, the lotus will bloom and change will come,” he added, according to ANI.

The state assembly polls in Jharkhand are slated for later this year as the five-year tenure of the Hemant Soren-led government will come to an end in January 2025. 

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan with Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh at an exhibition during the inauguration of the 96th Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Foundation and Technology Day, in New Delhi, on July 16, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked the scientific community to reach out to farmers and help them to increase production using science and technology. He was addressing the agriculture and veterinary scientists at a function here on Tuesday to mark the 96th foundation day of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Mr. Chouhan said a majority of the country’s farmers own very little land and there is a need to create model farms for them. Citing his experience in Madhya Pradesh, where agriculture production increased when he was Chief Minister, he said if agriculture is diversified, it is possible to increase the income of farmers in farming. “Work has to be done to increase production in animal husbandry, fish farming, wheat production, pulses and oilseeds,” he said adding that bringing self-reliance in production of pulses and edible oil is one of the main focus of the government. “If that is achieved we would not have to import palm oil from abroad,” he said.

He asked the scientists to assess how many of the 6,000 varieties of crops developed by the ICAR have reached the fields from the labs. “We have to work on how much the farmer and the scientist are connected. Unless science is used practically, the farmer will not benefit. It has to be analysed how much the farmer and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) are connected,” he said.

Mr. Chouhan said that if the ICAR sends at least two scientists to the 731 KVKs in the country, and if these scientists study and research from there, the farmers will get the benefit of it.

“Today, we should take a pledge that we will make India self-reliant in pulses and oilseeds too. The government will give full support for this,” he said. “All scientists should go to the fields for one month in a year and teach the farmers. All agricultural universities should work for the farmers. Agricultural universities, scientists and fields should be connected together,” he said.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, who also addressed the gathering, said if the country does not pay attention to the livestock and fisheries sectors which are contributing 35% to the GDP, then the sectors may fall down. “If we pay attention to it, it can contribute more than 50% to the GDP. We have reached the second position in the world in fisheries. Today we export goods worth ₹63,000 crore. If we promote livestock and fisheries, there will be a lot of benefit,” he said.

He said the Animal Husbandry Department is engaged in the eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). “Work is being done to reduce the spread of FMD in many states, work on how to free livestock from FMD in India,” he said. To address the issue of stray cattle, he said work should be done on classified semen and also on In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) technology. “ICAR should work to bring IVF at a cheaper rate. This will have two benefits – one, there will be freedom from stray animals on the roads and milk production will also increase,” he said.

Ranchi:

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday reacted to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s statement and said that the BJP neither harasses nor protects anyone, adding that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has harassed Champai Soren by making him the Chief Minister for a few days.

“BJP neither harasses nor protects, investigation agencies do their job, they have harassed Champai Soren by making him the Chief Minister for a few days. What would have happened if he had remained the Chief Minister for a few more days? This makes it clear that they want only one family to rule. The hunger for power is such that if they come back, they will not stay without a chair for even two days,” Mr Chouhan told reporters.

“The BJP is in the field with full force and will establish good governance again by winning the elections here,” he added.

The floor test of the new government in Jharkhand, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who took oath of office for the third time on Thursday, will be held on July 8 during a special session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly.

Earlier today, Hemant Soren was sworn-in as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand in Raj Bhavan, Ranchi.

In a veiled attack on the BJP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha executive president Hemant Soren slammed the BJP and said that the “arrogant people intoxicated with power” tried to “silence” him but with the support of the people, he was released from jail.

Hemant Soren was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court on June 28 after spending five months in jail.

Before he took the oath, he posted a video message on X in which he slammed “arrogant people intoxicated with power (BJP) who tried to silence me” and said, “Today, the public opinion of the people of Jharkhand will rise again. Jai Jharkhand, Jai Hind.”

“Today is July 4. On January 31, from the same place, I conveyed a message to you all on how the opposition has conspired against me. They were successful. For five months, they tried to keep me inside the jail by different means. We took the legal path and people supported us. The people of the state supported us and at last the court released me from jail,” said Hemant Soren in a video message before taking oath as Jharkhand CM.

He further said that the opposition put him in jail by levelling false allegations.

“In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, the people of Jharkhand gave our party mandate but the conspirators were unable to digest how an Adivasi youngster can sit in such a high position. At last, on January 31, they (the BJP) put false allegations on me and removed me from the post of Chief Minister. Because of the people’s blessings, I’m here out sitting in front of you. We will always be the voice of the people. Today, the public opinion of the people of Jharkhand will rise again. By taking charge, the work will be carried out again,” he said.

Earlier today, Hemant Soren arrived at the oath ceremony, with JMM national president Shibu Soren arrived at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Soren.

Soren, on June 28, was released on bail in a land scam case after spending around five months in jail.

Champai Soren resigned from the post just five months after taking the oath, setting the ball rolling for Hemant Soren to again take over the role on Wednesday.

Champai Soren took oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand in the Raj Bhavan on February 2 this year.

Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail on June 28 after nearly five months following bail from Jharkhand High Court in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as Chief Minister before his arrest on January 31.

He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering.

Earlier on December 29, Hemant Soren took the oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand as the 11th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

The event was termed as ‘Sankalp Diwas’ by mark the beginning of an era of new Jharkhand.

Hemant Soren’s return as CM will bolster the JMM, which won three seats in the tribal-dominated state of Jharkhand in the Lok Sabha elections.

In 2019, JMM fought the assembly elections in alliance with the Congress and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) and got a comfortable majority with forty-seven seats in the 81-member house.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhopal:

With Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the former chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, making to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet and the switch to Delhi, political circles are abuzz about the possible rise of his son Kartikey Singh Chouhan.

Mr Chouhan, now Union Agriculture Minister, led a grand roadshow in Bhopal last Sunday. This was followed by a workers’ gratitude conference in Bherunda, Sehore, on Friday amid huge buzz that the Minister’s son, Kartikey Chouhan, might be fielded from the Budhni Assembly seat vacated by his father.

In Bhopal, Mr Chouhan’s roadshow drew massive crowds, underscoring people’s love for the leader. Supporters lined both sides of the the streets, waved flags and cheered for him. 

भोपाल इस प्रेम के लिये आभार pic.twitter.com/0aKlg0D41J

— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (मोदी का परिवार ) (@ChouhanShivraj) June 16, 2024

भोपाल pic.twitter.com/wO7o9Uenyr

— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (मोदी का परिवार ) (@ChouhanShivraj) June 16, 2024

In Bherunda, Sehore, at a workers’ gratitude conference, to celebrate the historic victory of Mr Chouhan in the Budhni Assembly, Kartikey Chauhan, along with his mother Sadhana Singh, thanked the people.  Senior Chouhan addressed the gathering through video conferencing.

Addressing the workers, Kartikey Chouhan highlighted the overwhelming support from the Budhni Assembly constituency, where his father secured a remarkable victory by 1.5 lakh votes. 

“The people of Budhni have consistently given their blessings to our leader, making Shivraj ji the MLA six times. He is the only leader whose election is fought by the people of the constituency. I bow at your feet,” said the Junior Chouhan, an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. 

Selfie खास पलों को और खास बनाती है… pic.twitter.com/EenU4gmvw3

— Kartikey Singh Chouhan (@ks_chauhan23) April 19, 2024

The event was attended by several officials, including the BJP District President. Kartikey Chouhan used this platform to discuss various issues with the workers and reflect on the challenges faced during the 2023 elections. 

“Many fingers were raised, but we have given a befitting reply to the intellectuals. I do not see any difference between you, me and Shivraj ji. We all have many bodies and one soul,” said the son. 

“In the 2024 elections, everyone put forward their views in the Vidisha parliamentary constituency meeting. The results came out, and we registered a victory by one and a half lakh votes,” he proudly announced.

अबकी बार, 8 लाख पार…

यह विदिशा की जनता के प्रचंड विश्वास की जीत है। pic.twitter.com/7odLaKqu2B

— Kartikey Singh Chouhan (@ks_chauhan23) June 4, 2024

Shivraj Chouhan, popularly known as Mama (maternal uncle), expressed gratitude for the love and respect shown by the people. 

“It is because of your love and respect that I have reached here. I bow at your feet. Due to my busy schedule, I could not come, but I will definitely come next week. Development work will continue uninterrupted,” he assured.

Highlighting his father’s enduring popularity, Kartikeya Chouhan said, “Our leader was popular even as Chief Minister, and he became more popular when he was not the Chief Minister. After such a huge victory, today even the entire Delhi bows down. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, our leader Shivraj Singh Chauhan is counted among the biggest leaders in the country.”

Congress’ Digvijaya Singh, who lost from Raghogarh in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls, made light of Junior Chouhan’s remarks.

“If Shivraj’s popularity truly extends from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, BJP leaders should acknowledge this and consider promoting Shivraj to the position of Prime Minister,” said Mr Singh.

Amid these celebrations, there is growing speculation that Kartikey Chouhan might be fielded from the Budhni Assembly seat, which was vacated by his father after being elected as a Member of Parliament. This potential move could further consolidate the Chouhan family’s influence in the region.

Bhopal:

In a bewildering development, land designated for a canal in the constituency of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has inexplicably vanished.

The government department responsible for the canal has sought help from the revenue department to locate the missing land.

Historically, the canal, documented to be used for irrigation in Daulatpura and Madankheda, was established with the aim of providing irrigation water to farmers and to boost agricultural productivity.

This canal, positioned near the Betwa river, played a vital role in the region’s agriculture. However, the canal has mysteriously disappeared, leaving the community and the authorities puzzled.

“When we were small, we used to bathe in the canal water, but now it has vanished,” said Basant Kumar Kushwaha, a resident.

Adding to the intrigue is the theft of a water-lifting machine worth lakhs of rupees which was installed on the banks of the canal.

The canal department has asked the revenue department about the exact location of this land. The local administration, however, appears equally perplexed and concerned.

“You have brought this matter to my notice. A thorough investigation will be conducted to find out who has encroached upon the land and the government land will be freed,” district collector Buddhesh Kumar Vaidya said.

The matter dates back to 1980 when the land was acquired by the government at a relatively low cost, and farmers were compensated properly.

Over the years, residential colonies began to emerge in the area where the canal once stood. Encroachments upon government land, under the guise of colony development, had become a recurring issue. The exact timeline of when the canal was dismantled and the whereabouts of its material remain shrouded in mystery.

This land that disappeared was in the Union Agriculture Minister’s constituency, raising significant questions and concerns among the local population and government authorities. Locals said they are tracking how the investigation unfolds, and want the valuable canal land to be restored.

Bhopal/New Delhi:

Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan today travelled by train to reach Bhopal, weeks after he won the Lok Sabha elections from his home turf Vidisha.

Known for his down-to-earth approach, Mr Chouhan boarded the Shatabdi Express from Delhi along with his wife. 

He also spoke to the passengers in the train and posed with children. Some were also seen clicking selfie with him. 

Sharing his train travel pics on X – earlier known a Twitter – Mr Chouhan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for “revolutionary changes” in the Indian Railways.

“Under the guidance of the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and the vision of Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw ji, Indian Railways is witnessing revolutionary changes in all areas of management and operations. Indian Railways is continuously working to meet the fast paced needs of New India and to make the journey of passengers economical, safe and comfortable,” he said.

आज नई दिल्ली से ‘शताब्दी एक्सप्रेस’ ट्रेन में यात्रा कर रहा हूं। इस दौरान यात्रा का अनुभव अत्यंत आनंददायक है।

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के मार्गदर्शन तथा रेलमंत्री श्री @AshwiniVaishnaw जी के विजन से भारतीय रेल प्रबंधन और संचालन के सभी क्षेत्रों में युगांतरकारी… pic.twitter.com/LzwEN1UVOs

— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (मोदी का परिवार ) (@ChouhanShivraj) June 16, 2024

ट्रेन के सफर का अपना अलग आनंद है, कुछ घंटों के सफर में सहयात्रियों के साथ आत्मीय रिश्ता बन जाता है। pic.twitter.com/PpZz2LupH4

— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (मोदी का परिवार ) (@ChouhanShivraj) June 16, 2024

Ex-Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan – who orchestrated the BJP’s thumping win in the Assembly election last year, but was stood down from returning in that role – is the new Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, replacing the BJP’s senior tribal leader Arjun Munda.

Mr Chouhan contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from his Vidisha stronghold, which he won by a margin of over 8.2 lakh votes; he won this seat in five consecutive elections between 1991 and 2004.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release over Rs 20,000 crore as the 17th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme at an event in Varanasi on June 18, which will benefit 9.26 crore farmers nationwide, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday.

”Agriculture has always been a priority for the Prime Minister in his last two tenures,” Mr Chouhan said.

“Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.04 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers across the nation. With this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crore,” the minister said.

Mr Chouhan said that PM Modi will also grant certificates to more than 30,000 self-help groups designated as Krishi Sakhis after the release of the 17th instalment of the PM KISAN scheme.

PM Modi kicked off his third term in office on June 10 with the signing of the release of the 17th instalment of the PM Kisan Nidhi to underline the importance that his government attaches to the farmers.

The scheme, launched in February 2019, transfers online an amount of Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 directly into the bank accounts of farmers.

The Minister further stated that around 2.5 crore farmers will join the event across the country through video. Additionally, 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), over 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) from across the country will participate in the event to raise awareness among farmers.

Several Union Ministers will also be visiting 50 Krishi Vigyan Kendras to interact with farmers and raise awareness about the various schemes of the Department. They will also distribute certificates to the trained Krishi Sakhis of the area, Mr Chouhan added.

Following the Kisan Sammelan, PM Modi will visit the Baba Kashi Vishwanath Temple and participate in the world-famous Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)