Subsidy Scandal: MoS Agriculture Accused of 'Blatant Loot' in Own Farm Project!
Subsidy Scandal: MoS Agriculture Accused of 'Blatant Loot' in Own Farm Project!
Union MoS Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary faces 'blatant loot' allegations for approving a ₹99 lakh subsidy for his own farm. Congress demands answers, while BJP defends his actions. A major political row brews!
A significant political controversy has erupted following allegations that Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Bhagirath Choudhary, approved a substantial ₹99.03 lakh subsidy for his personal commercial cucumber farming project. The scheme under which the subsidy was granted is reportedly administered by his own ministry, sparking accusations of a severe conflict of interest.
The Congress party, through its leader Pawan Khera, has lambasted the incident, terming it a "blatant loot" and a clear example of corruption. Khera pointed out that the minister acted as the applicant, the sanctioning authority, and the beneficiary all at once. "Calling it a conflict of interest would be an understatement. This is blatant loot," Khera stated, adding that it further undermines the RSS-BJP's claims of zero tolerance for corruption.
The Congress leader also drew a sharp contrast between the expectations from the common public and the alleged actions of ministers. He highlighted that while the poor are expected to be grateful for basic provisions like 5 kg of free ration, ministers and their families appear to treat public funds as their personal coffers. Khera used a Hindi idiom, questioning how the 'crop' (the public) could survive when the 'fence' (the government/ministers) itself starts devouring it.
In response, the Rajasthan BJP president, Madan Rathore, has come to the defense of Minister Choudhary, dismissing the allegations as "completely wrong." Rathore clarified that the subsidy was provided by the National Horticulture Board, of which Bhagirath Choudhary is not a member, implying that the minister was not directly involved in the sanctioning process as alleged. This defense, however, is being scrutinized given the Congress's claims about the minister's role as both applicant and sanctioning authority.
The incident, reported on Saturday, June 27, 2026, has intensified the political slugfest, with the Congress questioning the Prime Minister's silence on the matter and demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds. The unfolding controversy places a spotlight on ethical governance and accountability within the government, prompting widespread public debate on the conduct of public officials.
