'UPA Govt Rejected Swaminathan Committee Recommendation': Shivraj's Response On MSP Draws Oppn Ire

The Congress accused Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of evading a direct response on introducing a legal MSP guarantee, despite the Swaminathan Committee's recommendations.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Source : X/@ChouhanShivraj

The Congress on Friday alleged that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan evaded a direct reply regarding the introduction of a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), accusing him of delivering a "jalebi" instead. An uproar erupted as Shivraj Chouhan told Rajya Sabha that the Modi government was awaiting a report by a committee on minimum support prices (MSP) and it would make a decision when views are received.

Opposition parties, led by the Congress, disrupted the Rajya Sabha proceedings, expressing dissatisfaction with Chouhan's response on the matter.

"The Swaminathan Committee recommended the support price by giving 50% profit on the cost, but the UPA government rejected it," the Agriculture Minister said during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha.

किसानों के नाम पर विपक्ष सिर्फ राजनीति कर रहा है।

स्वामीनाथन कमेटी ने लागत पर 50% मुनाफा देकर समर्थन मूल्य की सिफारिश की, लेकिन यूपीए सरकार ने इसे खारिज किया।

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व में खेती को लाभ का धंधा बनाने में और किसानों की आमदनी दोगुनी करने… pic.twitter.com/IIGY8UYhHW

— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 26, 2024

Chouhan asserted, "Serving farmers for us is like worshipping God," emphasising that there is no bigger well-wisher of farmers than Prime Minister Modi. He informed that the government has set up a panel on MSP, which is tasked with making the MSP system more effective and transparent. The committee has been asked to examine the feasibility of granting greater autonomy to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and to suggest measures for strengthening the agricultural marketing system.

Chouhan noted, "The meetings of this committee are being organised regularly. Since July 2022, the committee has met six times, and 35 meetings of various sub-committees have also been held. Whenever the panel submits its report, the government will examine it."

Despite Chouhan's detailed explanation, Opposition members, including Congress MPs, protested that his reply was incomplete and continued to disrupt proceedings. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar attempted to diffuse the situation, urging members to allow the proceedings to continue and warning them of potential disciplinary action for disrupting the House.

In his concluding remarks, Chouhan reiterated, "The government has a six-pronged strategy to ensure appropriate MSP for farmers, including increasing farm production, reducing the cost of production, giving appropriate prices of produce, compensating for loss due to natural calamities, diversification of agriculture, and promoting organic farming. We are committed to farmers and will take appropriate steps once the committee's report is submitted."

Modi Government Backstabbed Farmers: Congress On MSP

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, "In the Rajya Sabha, the Union agriculture minister was asked a direct and straightforward question on whether the government will introduce a legal guarantee for MSP as demanded by farmer organisations. For almost 30 minutes, he stonewalled and went round and round to avoid answering the question. All that the minister accomplished was delivering a jalebi."

Today in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of Agriculture was asked a direct and straightforward question on whether the Government of India will introduce a legal guarantee for MSP as being demanded by farmer organisations.

For almost 30 minutes, he stonewalled and went round… pic.twitter.com/6tsRZdNpBj

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 26, 2024

During a press conference, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala condemned the government's stance, declaring, "Today is a black day for farmers in India. The sinister conspiratorial face of the Modi government got exposed as the agriculture minister stated that they would never frame a law guaranteeing MSP to 72 crore farmers and farm labourers in India", as quoted by news agency PTI.

Surjewala further alleged, "The Modi government has backstabbed the farmers of India by refusing to give C2+50 per cent profit as MSP, in accordance with the report of the Swaminathan Commission. C2 includes input costs, family labour, and rent of land of the farmer. Modi ji had promised 50 per cent profit, but the government refused."