Farm Laws Repeal: Navjot Singh Sidhu Alleges Centre's 'Sinister' Plan To End MSP, Govt Procurement

Small farmers, according to the PCC president, require the Punjab government's assistance to safeguard them from "corporate takeover" through the "Punjab Model."

Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Punjab Congress chairman Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday said that concerns surrounding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) are more important than agricultural legislation, and alleged that the centre is planning to eliminate MSP, the Public Distribution System (PDS), government procurement, and food security for the poor.

Small farmers, according to the PCC president, require the Punjab government's assistance to safeguard them from "corporate takeover" through the "Punjab Model."

The PCC Chief on his official Twitter handle writes, "Today, as we rejoice in our victory against Centre's three Black Laws... Our real work has just begun. The Centre's sinister plan to end MSP, end food security for the poor, end government procurement and end PDS will continue without the farm laws, it will be now hidden and more dangerous."

Centre's design to give Procurement, Storage and Retail to private capital is still ongoing... No word by Centre for MSP legalisation, we are back to June 2020, Small farmers need Punjab Govt's support to protect them from Corporate take over - Punjab Model is the only way !! 2/2

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) November 21, 2021

He has previously stated that if the central government truly intends to fulfill its pledge of doubling farmers' income, it must pass laws ensuring a remunerative MSP.

PM Modi announced on Friday that the three farm laws will be repealed by the centre during the winter session of parliament, which will begin on November 29, 2021. “Today, I have come to tell you, the whole country, that we have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws," he said.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at Delhi's borders since November 26, 2020, asking that the regulations be repealed. The Supreme Court suspended the execution of three agricultural regulations after many rounds of discussions between the government and farmer groups failed to stop the demonstrations.