The Congress on Saturday (June 27, 2026) called it a "blatant loot" and conflict of interest after a report surfaced that Union minister Bhagirath Choudhary approved ₹99 lakh subsidy for his own commercial farm.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said for the BJP, "subsidy begins at home", alleging that the Minister was the applicant, sanctioning authority, as well as the beneficiary.
"In yet another blow to the 'Chanda-Chor' RSS-BJP's claims of zero tolerance for corruption, the Indian Express has reported that Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary approved a ₹99.03 lakh subsidy for his own commercial cucumber farming project under a scheme administered by his own ministry," he said in a post on X.
"He is the applicant, the sanctioning authority, and the beneficiary — all rolled into one. Calling it a conflict of interest would be an understatement. This is blatant loot," Mr. Khera alleged.
He said it is troubling because the poor are expected to be grateful for 5 kg of free ration and a modest midday meal for their children, as though these are the government's favours rather than citizens' rights.
"Meanwhile, Ministers and their kith and kin have the state treasury at their disposal — cornering subsidies, drawing benefits and treating public funds as their father's estate," the Congress leader said.
Using a Hindi phrase, Mr. Khera said, "When the very fence starts devouring the crop, how can the crop survive?"
Defending the Union minister, Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore said, "The opposition's allegation is completely wrong. National Horticulture Board gave the subsidy, which Bhagirath Choudhary is not a member of...Whoever in the opposition has made this allegation has done so out of ignorance."
The Indian Express reported that Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary received a ₹99.03 lakh subsidy for a commercial cucumber farming project under a scheme run by the ministry he serves in.
While the final approval was granted by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) project approval committee, which does not include the minister, Mr. Choudhary is the ex-officio vice-president of the NHB board that oversees its functioning, it reported.
Published - June 28, 2026 11:59 am IST
Agriculture / subsidy / ministers (government) / Bharatiya Janata Party / Indian National Congress
Source: The Hindu - India News
