'I Have Not Hidden Anything': Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary Amid Row Over Rs 99 Lakh Subsidy

Published 27 June 2026 · politics

'I Have Not Hidden Anything': Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary Amid Row Over Rs 99 Lakh Subsidy Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 21:49 IST

'I Have Not Hidden Anything': Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary Amid Row Over Rs 99 Lakh Subsidy Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 21:49 IST Bhagirath Choudhary, a Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, reportedly received Rs 99 lakh for his cucumber farm from his own ministry. Rapid Read Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary (@mpbhagirathbjp/X) Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary is under scrutiny for allegedly receiving a Rs 99 lakh subsidy from his own ministry. However, he clarified on Saturday that he has not hidden anything and received the government aid like other farmers. Choudhary, a Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, allegedly received Rs 99,60,000 for his cucumber farm three months ago through a scheme under his own ministry and approved by a board in which he is ex officio Vice-President, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The scheme sought to promote “commercial farming" of select vegetables and flowers that come under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), which is administered by the Horticulture Board (NHB), an organisation under the administrative control of the Agriculture Ministry. ‘What Did I Hide?’ Responding to the report, Choudhary said he had availed the subsidy like thousands of farmers in the country and was not hiding anything. “I am a farmer and have been in agriculture since my childhood days…I have not hidden anything. Thousands of farmers use polyhouses and avail subsidies. So, I did too," he told news agency ANI. #WATCH | Ajmer, Rajasthan: On a media report that his own ministry gave him Rs 99-lakh subsidy, under a scheme, for his cucumber farm, MoS Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary says, “I am a farmer and have been in agriculture since my childhood days…I have not hidden anything.… pic.twitter.com/c8dk0f3D7h— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2026 Choudhary said he applied for the subsidy in 2018 and mentioned all the loans and subsidies he had availed at the board.

“I also train farmers there in new techniques and natural farming. All local officials have visited the spot. So, what did I hide?" he added. Opposition Attacks BJP According to The Indian Express report, Choudhary’s project for cucumber cultivation is one of 467 projects approved by NHB in 2025 under the scheme titled “Development of Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post-Harvest Management of Horticulture Crops". Calling it a “blatant loot", Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged a conflict of interest and accused the BJP of hypocrisy regarding corruption. “They say charity begins at home. For the BJP, subsidy begins at home," he said. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also hit out at the BJP, calling it a “new model of corruption" and conflict of interest in the ruling government. Choudhary is the BJP MP from Ajmer and has been MoS at the Agriculture Ministry since June 2024. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18.