Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, for distorting the Centre’s advisory on promoting the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds to enhance food security. She emphasized that this communication aimed at sharing the responsibility of national food security, with most states understanding and cooperating except for CM Stalin, who sensationalized the issue.
Sitharaman urged CM Stalin to focus on promoting self-reliance in essential crops rather than favoring foreign interests. She highlighted the importance of boosting domestic production of pulses and oilseeds to ensure food security and reduce dependency on imports, which could lead to price fluctuations and vulnerabilities in the food supply chain.
The Finance Minister stressed the significance of collaborative efforts between the Centre and states to prioritize crops essential for India’s food sovereignty. She expressed disappointment in CM Stalin’s approach of creating false narratives and discord between the Centre and states instead of working towards agricultural sustainability and farmers’ welfare.
By advocating for increased production of pulses, oilseeds, and millets, India aims to enhance nutritional security and economic stability by reducing the reliance on imported edible oils. Sitharaman underscored the benefits of aligning agricultural practices with the country’s strategic requirements to achieve long-term food security goals.
