Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Kharge Credits Congress Food Policies, Questions Modi Government’s Record
Mallikarjun Kharge spoke about how India became better at producing food.
He said Indira Gandhi helped lead the Green Revolution when India faced hunger and food shortages.
He also praised M. S. Swaminathan for helping improve farming.
Kharge said farming needed more than new technology, including water, electricity, seeds, fertilisers and loans.
He said these efforts helped India produce enough food for itself.
Kharge also credited Sonia Gandhi with bringing the Food Security Act.
He then questioned what the current Modi government had done to improve people’s lives.
He made these comments while presenting an award to the S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
Mallikarjun Kharge said earlier Congress governments established food security and improved living conditions for poorer Indians.
He credited Indira Gandhi’s Green Revolution policies with helping India move from food scarcity to self-sufficiency.
Kharge said Sonia Gandhi’s Food Security Act provided food to millions across India.
He cited rice production rising from 34.6 million tonnes to 53.6 million tonnes and wheat production from 11 million tonnes to 36.3 million tonnes between 1960-61 and 1980-81.
At an award event, Kharge questioned what the Modi government had achieved compared with Congress-led initiatives.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Telangana leaders and other speakers, addressed the event.
- What
- Kharge praised Congress-era food and agricultural policies and questioned the Modi government’s contribution to improving people’s lives.
- When
- September 2; the article also identifies the award as the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Award-2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, at an event where the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Award-2026 was presented to the S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
- Why
- Kharge was discussing India’s agricultural transformation and food security while highlighting the contributions of Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and M. S. Swaminathan.
- Rice production
- Increased from 34.6 million tonnes in 1960-61 to 53.6 million tonnes in 1980-81.
- Wheat production
- Increased from 11 million tonnes in 1960-61 to 36.3 million tonnes in 1980-81.
- Green Revolution
- Kharge described it as a major initiative associated with Indira Gandhi that helped transform India’s food economy.
- Food Security Act
- Kharge credited Sonia Gandhi with bringing the law to provide food to millions across India.
- Award recipient
- The S. Swaminathan Research Foundation received the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Award-2026.
- Other speakers
- Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also spoke.