Farmers Movement Archive

Centre must ensure foodgrain MSP round the year: Agriculture minister Dada Bhuse

NASHIK: State agriculture minister Dada Bhuse said the Centre must ensure that the mechanism to give the minimum support price for foodgrain is active throughout the year and is not limited to certain months. Bhuse, state civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal and farmers’ organisations felt that the PM’s announcement to repeal the three farm laws was a “victory for the resolute farmers, who had put up a brave fight against the Union government.” The important demand of the farmers’ movement is the enactment of a central law guaranteeing a fair price for all agricultural commodities and all farmers. “The government has not said anything about this. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Kisan Sabha and like-minded organizations will hold an immediate meeting to study all these developments and announce the necessary decisions,” said Ajit Navale of SKM. Farmers organisations and other political parties gathered at the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Nashik city to celebrate. Bhuse told TOI, “Had the Union government made this decision earlier, the lives of the farmers, who died in the agitation, would have been saved.” Bhujbal said the prolonged stir had forced the Centre to withdraw the laws. “The farmers in the country, by continuing with the agitation for about a year in a peaceful manner, have set an example. The government had to repeal; though it may have happened after a series of defeat in elections and some upcoming elections,” Bhujbal said. The farmers from Nashik had joined the agitation in December last year, when about 2,000 farmers went to Delhi to express their solidarity with the agitating farmers. Raju Desle, the state secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, said the government should quickly draw up rehabilitation plan for the families of about 700 farmers who died in the agitation. The issue does not end with the Prime Minister seeking ‘forgiveness’ of the farmers. The kin of the farmers, who died during the agitation, should be given Rs 50 lakh as ex-gratia and even a government job to one relative,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-11-20

Nashik