SAD, BJP hail hike in MSP of 14 Kharif crops

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP in Punjab on Wednesday hailed the Centre’s decision to affect a steep hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for food grains, pulses, oil seeds and cotton to ensure a profit margin of more than 50 percent on costs of agricultural inputs, including labour.

Punjab’s five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal congratulated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the Punjab farmers on fulfilling his commitment to them to implement the recommendations of Dr Swaminathan on giving farmers a profit of 50 percent over and above their cost of production.

Badal said that the Centre’s bold initiative to order this unprecedented hike in MSP of various crops speaks of commitment of the NDA government to come to the aid of the farming community in its hour of dire need.

Badal said Shah had personally given him an assurance to this effect when he met the Akali leaders in Chandigarh last month. “I had informed the BJP president about the pathetic plight faced by the farmers leading to the shocking phenomenon of farmers’ suicides. More than 500 farmers have committed suicides in Punjab this year alone,” he said.

SAD president Sukhbir Badal said that the Prime Minister had achieved the unique distinction of emerging as the “protector of the annadata and most pro-farmer PM of India” by effecting a historic increase in MSP of 14 kharif crops in four years time, “something which the Congress government had failed to do in 50 years of rule”.

Also hailing the “historic” decision, BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh said that a steep hike would come as a big relief to the peasantry. “The Rs 200 hike in MSP of paddy would definitely boost the farming sector as 12 crore farmers are likely to benefit by this announcement,” he said.