Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 30 October invoked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's controversial 'potato to gold' remark from 2017, telling a gathering at Bhildi in Gujarat's Banaskantha district that local farmers were already turning potatoes into gold through their own hard work — without anyone's promise. The remarks came during Modi's visit to Banaskantha, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several agricultural and dairy infrastructure projects.

The Political Barb and Its Origin

The jibe traces back to 12 November 2017, when Rahul Gandhi, while campaigning in Patan district, made the 'potato in, gold out' remark — a statement that drew widespread ridicule and became a recurring political reference point. Modi, addressing the Bhildi crowd, turned the phrase on its head. 'Banaskantha's potatoes are now famous across the world. Nobody needs to come here and say they will make gold out of potatoes. The people here can say that they are already doing it,' Modi said, drawing applause from the gathering.

The remark was a pointed reminder of the 2017 controversy, delivered in the very state where Gandhi had made the original comment during the Gujarat Assembly election campaign.

Agricultural Transformation in Banaskantha

Modi credited the availability of Narmada water and the adoption of modern techniques such as drip irrigation for transforming Banaskantha's agricultural landscape. The region has grown into a major potato-producing hub, with its produce now reportedly reaching international markets. He also recalled that during his early years as Gujarat Chief Minister, he had faced protests when he urged farmers to conserve water and electricity — a stance that, he argued, had since been vindicated by the region's agricultural prosperity.

The Prime Minister pointed to the government's horticulture cluster development programme, under which 12 clusters have been approved for crops including tomatoes, potatoes, chillies, grapes, bananas, onions, oranges, pomegranates and cocoa. Two of these clusters are in North Gujarat and are expected to directly benefit potato farmers in Banaskantha and Sabarkantha districts. The programme offers subsidies for establishing new orchards and rejuvenating existing plantations.

Potato Processing Plant Expansion at Sanadar

Among the projects inaugurated during the visit was the expansion of a potato-processing plant at Sanadar, which manufactures French fries. Modi said the expanded facility would increase the plant's procurement capacity, providing potato growers with an additional and more stable market. 'The expansion will increase the plant's capacity and allow it to procure more potatoes from farmers,' he said. The project forms part of a broader effort to link agricultural production with food processing and improve the value chain for farmers.

Banas Dairy and Other Inaugurations

Modi also highlighted the work of the Banas Dairy cooperative, noting that its impact had extended well beyond Gujarat. He specifically mentioned Varanasi — his own parliamentary constituency — as one of the regions that had benefited from the dairy's experience and services. During the visit, he inaugurated a new automated storage and retrieval system for ultra-high-temperature milk products at Banas Dairy's Palanpur facility, and laid the foundation stone for two Bio-CNG plants that will process cattle dung into energy.

As the government pushes to connect farming communities with processing infrastructure and cooperative networks, the Banaskantha visit signals continued political focus on Gujarat's agricultural hinterland ahead of future electoral cycles.