Centre positive on extending relief to tobacco, aqua farmers, says Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar during a meeting, at Parliament House, in New Delhi. File | Modi might have taken note of his advice.Mr. Pawar had met Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke at Jantar Mantar in Delhi during the CJP's agitation for Mr. Pradhan's resignation, and later also met Prime Minister Modi."I personally met the Prime Minister and told him that dialogue is essential in a democracy. I had also told Abhijeet Dipke and other young protesters that if the government showed willingness to hold talks, they too should be ready for dialogue," he said.When asked by a reporter whether the government's climbdown, as reflected in Mr. Pradhan's decision to resign, was the result of his talks with the PM, Mr. Pawar said, "I strongly urged the Prime Minister to initiate dialogue and not to use police action against the students. He may have taken note of what I said."He would also like to thank the Opposition parties for extending "parliamentary and moral support" to the youth's movement, Mr. Pawar said, adding that the democracy in the country was witnessing a revival.While congratulating the young protesters, he said the government should have avoided using lathicharge and tear gas against them. Shutting down Delhi Metro caused inconvenience to the general public and "the action taken against many young women protesters could also have been avoided," the former Union minister said.“The struggle and determination shown by the youth over 28 consecutive days at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in the NEET paper leak case is truly commendable,” Mr. Pawar said in a statement earlier.“In response to the insistent demand of the protesters, the Union Education Minister has finally resigned today. This fight, which was firmly against oppression without fear and forced the government to accept moral responsibility against injustice, is a symbol of the power of democracy. This is a major victory for the unity of the youth power in the country,” he added. Published - July 25, 2026 06:58 pm IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (July 24, 2026) thanked everyone for the responses and positive suggestions received to his video, on Friday, July 24, 2026. In the video message, Mr. Modi said that a new Bill incorporating provisions for strong action against paper leaks will be introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament next week.Jantar Mantar protest LIVEThe draft Bill, as announced by the Prime Minister in the Instagram video shared by him in the intervening night of Thursday (July 23) and Friday (July 24), was approved by the Union Cabinet on Friday."Thank you, friends. I got the opportunity to talk to you at midnight. The way you have responded to my video, positive suggestions given by you, thanks to everybody. Your love will continue to flow; our relations will continue with more bonding. Thank you, thank you friends," he said in the fresh video message released through his Instagram handle.Mr. Modi's outreach to the youth came four days after thousands of students led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) took part in the 'Sansad Chalo' march to press for their demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination-related irregularities. Published - July 25, 2026 07:54 am IST

Minister for Agriculture K. Atchannaidu. | He expressed confidence that announcements on reducing GST on unmanufactured tobacco and extending financial assistance to tobacco growers would be made soon.Addressing a press conference at the TDP headquarters in Mangalagiri, Mr. Atchannaidu said he had met Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Rajiv Ranjan Singh in New Delhi on the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.He said the State had sought a reduction in GST on raw tobacco and financial assistance of ₹15 per kg for farmers from the Tobacco Board’s cess fund.“The Centre has also responded favourably to proposals aimed at reducing aquaculture feed costs by retaining more domestically produced fish meal and fish oil for local use,” he said.Mr. Atchannaidu said the government had urged major tobacco companies to procure the entire crop from farmers and claimed the companies had agreed.Launching a political attack, Mr. Atchannaidu accused YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of exploiting the problems of tobacco and aquaculture farmers for political mileage. He alleged that the recent interactions organised by the YSRCP leader largely involved party workers rather than genuine farmers, and urged people not to be misled by political campaigns. Published - July 22, 2026 09:27 pm IST