After the main session Monday, Modi got off the dais and sat among the mass of farmers - and listened patiently to farmers speaking about their best practices. He later said he had learnt a lot.
Modi refrained from discussing politics except when he, on the concluding day Tuesday, took on his critics for questioning his decision to reward 245 select farmers from around the country each with Rs.51,000 in cash, a shawl, a memento and a certificate for excellence.
"Why are people criticizing me? Are not farmers from other states a part of this great nation?" he asked in his halting trademark style, drawing more applause. "I am trying to unite. Is that wrong?"
Some of the delegates admitted they were affiliated to the pro-BJP farmers group and that this was a good place to network as the next Lok Sabha election was not too far away.
According to the organisers, some 4,000 farmers attended the event. Virtually all of them came by train, to stay in Gandhinagar for three to four nights, spending no money of their own.
