In RS, Shivraj Assures MSP For All Crops As Farmers' Delhi March Deferred For Talks With Modi Govt Tomorrow
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured the Rajya Sabha that the government will procure all farm produce at the MSP. This comes amid farmer protests demanding legal backing for MSP.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the Narendra Modi government would procure all farm produce at the minimum support price (MSP). His remarks came amid escalating farmer protests and their planned march to Delhi with demands, including legal backing for MSP.
Speaking during Question Hour, Chouhan stated, “I want to assure the House through you that all produce of farmers will be purchased at minimum support price. This is the Modi government and the guarantee to fulfil Modi's guarantee.”
आदरणीय श्री जयराम रमेश जी MSP को लेकर मेरी राय बहुत पवित्र है। मेरे लिए किसानों की सेवा भगवान की पूजा है। pic.twitter.com/QrqiIUyYca
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 6, 2024
The minister also took a swipe at the Opposition, asserting, “When our friends from the other side were in power, they had said on record that they cannot accept the MS Swaminathan Commission recommendations, especially on giving 50 per cent more than the cost of produce. I have the record.” Responding to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's direction, Chouhan agreed to substantiate his claims with documents.
Highlighting the government's efforts, Chouhan said, “Since 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to calculate the minimum support price by giving 50 per cent profit on cost of production to farmers.” He added that crops such as paddy, wheat, jowar, and soyabean have been purchased at 50 per cent above production costs over the past three years. He also referred to measures like export duty adjustments to stabilise commodity rates when prices fall.
आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी ने फर्टिलाइजर पर सब्सिडी देने और किसानों को सस्ती खाद उपलब्ध कराने का चमत्कार किया है। pic.twitter.com/Igi4kIDMEp
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 6, 2024
He also remarked, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has performed the miracle of giving subsidy on fertilisers and making available cheap manure to the farmers."
Meanwhile, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini blamed the Congress for the woes of farmers as he remarked, "Farmer's issue is not a matter of politics...PM Modi has always worked in the favour of the farmers and has always taken decisions which are good for them...Congress is responsible for the present situation of the farmers in the country... They (Congress leaders) are raising placards but they should have seen their tenure behind those placards... Opposition should not do politics on this issue because the kind of politics Congress is doing, they are getting finished after that."
#WATCH | On farmers' protest, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, "Farmer's issue is not a matter of politics...PM Modi has always worked in the favour of the farmers and has always taken decisions which are good for them...Congress is responsible for the present situation of the… pic.twitter.com/OPvzmnWPwZ
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
This came as the Congress demanded a law guaranteeing MSP as the party slammed the Modi government's response to farmers' protests.
"The three farm laws were withdrawn with the promise that a law guaranteeing MSP will be brought. Now 2 years have passed. Once again the farmers of the country are sitting on the border...The farmer, who is called the God of the Earth, is now being stopped by using sticks, tear gas, concrete walls... When the country's Agriculture Minister was asked whether he would make a law to guarantee MSP, he openly evaded the question. This somehow reflects the intention of the Modi government," Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a presser.
"The Prime Minister of the country should call the farmers for talks without any delay. A law should be passed to guarantee MSP in this session of Parliament. This is the demand of the Indian National Congress," he added.
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala says, "The 3 farm laws were withdrawn with the promise that a law guaranteeing MSP will be brought. Now 2 years have passed. Once again the farmers of the country are sitting on the border...The farmer, who is called the God of… pic.twitter.com/jaEV7LmrwL
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
Farmers' Protest Deferred To Sunday As Agitators Give Modi Govt Time For Talks
Meanwhile, tensions erupted at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border as farmers clashed with police during their 'Delhi Chalo' march. Protesters were met with teargas shells, leaving some injured. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, announced the suspension of the march for the day, citing the injuries. ALSO READ | Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' March Deferred To Dec 8, Pandher Claims 6 Injured In Tear Gas Lobbing At Shambhu Border
Pandher also confirmed that a group of 101 farmers would march towards Delhi on 8 December at noon. "Tomorrow's day has been kept for talks with the central government. They have said that they are ready for talks, so we will wait till tomorrow. We want talks to happen. We do not want a confrontation with the government; we will remain peaceful," he said.
#WATCH | At the Shambhu border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "Now 'Jattha' of 101 farmers will march towards Delhi on December 8 at 12 noon. Tomorrow's day has been kept for talks with the central government. They have said that they are ready for talks, so we will… pic.twitter.com/3llMjDGvsd
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
He criticised the government’s response, stating, "Why is the government behaving with us like an enemy country? We are citizens of this country and have made a lot of sacrifices for the nation." He added, "The entire world saw how the fifth-largest economy of the globe committed atrocities and injured our (farmer) leaders. This, I want to repeat, is the moral victory of the farmers' protest, and PM Modi doesn't have an argument on why we are being stopped from moving ahead peacefully."
The protests have reignited the demand for a legal guarantee of MSP, with farmers seeking substantive action from the government.
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