‘MSP hike is betrayal of promises made by govt’

New Delhi: Political temperatures are shooting up, with the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), an umbrella organisation of 194 farmer bodies from across the country, terming the NDA government’s decision to hike the minimum support price (MSP) a “betrayal” of promises made to the farmers. The AIKSCC said that the “MSP figures being claimed as implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations is blatant fraud on the farmers of the country”.

“To meet the false propaganda by the Prime Minister, who has decided to hold 40 meetings to highlight the ‘historic’ raise in MSP, AIKSCC will hold 400 meetings in the country in the next four months to expose this fraud on the people of the country,” a statement issued by the AIKSCC said. The farmers’ group further said, “AIKSCC resolves to hold token black flag demonstration on July 20, 2018 with a march from Mandi House to Parliament Street at 11 am against the fraud perpetuated by the Prime Minister in the name of MSP. The gathering will also request the Parliament, including the 21 parties that lent support to the farmers bills to pass the same in the Parliament. Both these bills — the Debt Waiver and Guaranteed MSP Bills — are scheduled to be presented in the Lok Sabha on July 20 as private member bills. The protest will emphasis the “dhokha” (betrayal) given by the government to the farmers.” “The Modi government’s MSP for Kharif is based on the same formula of A2+Fl that was given by the Manmohan Singh government for Rabi. This is entirely different from the demand of C2 costs + 50% which was also promised by the Prime Minister. The government has restricted announcement to only 14 crops while farmers have been demanding MSP for all crops including fruits, vegetables, milk amongst other farm related produce,” AIKSCC said.

“Most significant is the lack of any plan to ensure procurement of the crops for which MSP has been announced. Only 28-30% of Wheat and 30 to 35% of paddy is procured while for coarse grains the procurement is less than 1%. In pulses, even  the increased procurement in the last year has only reached 18%, while in oilseeds it is only 6.4%. With PDS being converted to DBT, there is widespread apprehension that even the current procurement will stop. AIKSCC demands that as per their MSP Guarantee Bill to be placed in the parliament on the 20th, every grain in the country must be sold at least on the MSP.

“AIKSCC emphasises that the cost of inputs like diesel, fertilisers and electricity are being increased rapidly, particularly diesel on daily basis. The MNCs are selling seeds and other inputs at very high rates. AIKSCC has been demanding reduction in input costs, which is also part of the MSP bills. It demands immediate reduction of diesel, fertiliser and electricity costs and input subsidy to all farmers, share croppers, tenant farmers in order to support farmers and keep food prices in check,” the farmers’ organisation further said.