Farmers Movement Archive

No withdrawal of MSP on crops, says SAD president Sukhbir Badal

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday assured the all-party meeting that the minimum support price (MSP) on foodgrains would not be withdrawn and also made it clear that he was not defending the central government’s farm ordinances. “As far as we are concerned, our only interest is whether it is in the interest of farmers of the state or not. There is no provision in the ordinance on farmers’ produce and trade that MSP will end,” said Sukhbir. He further added that if one studied the issue he would find that the Punjab government had already amended the state APMC Act to implement the provisions of the ordinance in August 2017. Sukhbir urged chief minister Amarinder Singh to collectively write to the Union government on behalf of all political parties in Punjab to get a clear answer as to whether there was any truth in the propaganda about the so called end to the MSP system for purchase of foodgrains. “We are ready to sign any document seeking a written answer to this query. This is not all. In Parliament also during discussion of the ordinance we will insist on an assurance from the central government that the MSP and assured marketing system will remain in place,” he added. The SAD president also advised Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar not to spread disinformation. “When multinationals can do trade today, why are we resorting to scare tactics by claiming that they will capture the entire market when the Union agriculture minister has already clarified that the entire government procurement will take place from mandis. This means there will not be any difference in revenue collection of around Rs 4,000 crore,” said Sukhbir. Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma, who also attended the all-party meeting, said there was no mention of any change in the MSP of crops in the three laws passed by the Union government. He asked the Congress leaders not to issue misleading statements. He said that the Union government was committed to the development of farmers and it had made laws in their interest.

The Times of India

2020-06-26

Chandigarh