New Delhi: When National Democratic Alliance (NDA) facing flake in the parliament over no-confidence Bill, the farmers rally at Parliament Street demanding to implement Swaminathan Report on Minimum Support Price (MSP) adding fuel to the fire.
Terming MSP as ‘Modi Support Price’ and chanting slogans against the BJP-led NDA government, hundreds of farmers associated with the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) hold massive rally at historic Parliament Street on Friday afternoon.
The rally begun from Mandi House at 12 pm and reached Parliament Street an hour after, however, massive police forced have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Speaking on the occasion, AIKSCC convener BN Singh said, “Even after 70 years the biggest problem of the country ‘making farming profitable’ has not been solved. The governments have made fool to the farmers by waving loans. But this Government has crossed the all the limits and spreading biggest lie of increasing MSP.”
Meanwhile, talking to Ten News, social activist Medha Pathkar said said, “The recent hike MSP is Modi Support Price not as the recommendations of Swaminathan report.”
To highlight governments achievement in agriculture, BJP has planned to organise 40 rallies across the country, however, AIKSCC has planned to hold 400 rallies to expose the lies of BJP government. Moreover, the association has also planned to hold massive rally on August 9, and November 20 in New Delhi.
AIKSCC empahises that the cost of inputs like diesel, fertilizers and electricity are being increased rapidly, particularly diesel on daily basis. The MNCs are sellng seeds and other inputs at very high rates. AlKSCC has been demanding reduction in input costs, which is also part of the MSP bills. it demands immediate reduction of diesel, fertilizer and electricity costs and input subsidy to all farmers, share croppers, tenant farmers in order to support farmers and keep food prices in check.
AlKSCC demands that as per their MSP Guarantee Bill to be placed in the parliament on the July 20, every grain in the country must be sold at least on the MSP and failure to purchase the same by the traders would invite penal action.
Truth of MSP
Modi government’s MSP for Kharif is based on the same formula of A2 + Fl that was given by the Manmohan Singh govt for Rabi. This is entirely different from the demand of C2 costs + 50% which was also promised by the Prime Minister.
Government has restricted announcement to only 14 crops while farmers have been demanding MSP for all crops including fruits and vegetables and milk amongst other farm related products.
Only 28-30% of Wheat and 30 to 35% of paddy is procured while for coarse grains and pulses the procurement is less than 1%. With PDS being converted to DBT, there is widespread apprehension that even the current procurement will stop.
