Amid allegations from the Opposition that he received a ₹1 crore subsidy from his own ministry, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary has denied any wrongdoing and said the claims are politically motivated.
Speaking exclusively to Aaj Tak, Choudhary did not dispute receiving the subsidy but maintained that it was allotted strictly under existing government rules. He said the assistance was provided under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, a central scheme launched in 2014 to encourage commercial horticulture, including the cultivation of vegetables and flowers.
The scheme, he explained, offers a 50% subsidy for setting up infrastructure such as polyhouses, and is available to eligible farmers across the country.
Choudhary said he has been engaged in farming since childhood and owns agricultural land in Peeh village in Rajasthan’s Didwana-Kuchaman district. He said the region suffers from severe water scarcity and declining groundwater levels, which led him to develop a large farm pond capable of storing around 20 million litres of rainwater, along with a polyhouse for protected cultivation.
According to him, he applied for the subsidy in 2018, but the funds were released in 2025 only after the polyhouse was completed, crops had been grown for several months, and verification procedures including photographic documentation were finished.
Rejecting allegations of impropriety, he said the Opposition was deliberately misrepresenting facts. He also pointed out that a detailed information board about the project, loan, and subsidy has been installed at his farm.
He questioned the basis of the accusations, arguing that such transparency would not exist if there had been any wrongdoing.
Choudhary added that without government support, setting up a polyhouse would not be financially feasible for many farmers, which is why subsidies under such schemes are necessary.
He further said that his farm is used to demonstrate modern agricultural practices and that he often invites other farmers to observe techniques being used there. He noted that crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes, capsicum, and coriander are currently being cultivated in the polyhouse.
