Not Possible To Draft Law On MSP: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar

Khattar said that drafting legislation is not possible because then the government will have an obligation to buy the farmers’ produce in case no one else does.

New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said that it is not possible to prepare legislation that would guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the farmers, reported ANI. He said that drafting legislation is not possible because then the government will have an obligation to buy the farmers’ produce in case no one else does.

"Till now, no discussions have been held on this (on regularising MSP). Agricultural economists also have varied opinions. It does not seem possible to draft a law on this. Law on MSP is not possible because If a law is made on this, then the onus will come on the government that if their produce is not bought, then the government will have to buy it," Khattar responded when asked about farmers’ demand to regularise MSP. 

Khattar said that putting such a system in place was not possible and the government will but crops as the requirement would arise. "The government does not require so much and to make a system on this is also not possible. We will buy as per the requirement," he said. 

The CM had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and talked on various issues from Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Pollution and other upcoming development projects in Haryana. In a tweet, Khattar wrote, "Discussed many important issues with the Prime Minister today including 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign, cleanliness campaign, pollution, and farmers' movement.”

After the meeting, talking to reporters Khattar said, "We discussed the Antyodaya Gramodaya Mela, Auto Appeal System (AAS), DRISHYA-drone technology and Large Scale Mapping. The Prime Minister showed concerns on pollution, cleanliness in the rural sector and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao."

He welcomed the move to repeal the three farm laws and said that it will send out a good message. "I thanked him for repealing the three farm laws. It sent a good message to the people. He was also worrying that the farmers should go back. There are indications from all sides that farmers will definitely go back as soon as the law is repealed in Parliament on November 29,” he said.