MSP increase is an attempt to befool farmers, claims Randhawa

Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Sunday termed the step undertaken by the Union Government to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the Kharif crops as a mere attempt to befool the farming community for the sake of electoral gains.

Randhawa questioned as to why during the past four years the Union Government didn’t care at all to remember the plight of the farmers.

When the farmers were organising protests and demonstrations in Delhi and demanding their rightful due, the Union Government did not pay any attention to their misery, he said.

"Now, with the general elections fast approaching, the BJP has enacted a drama to encash the farmers’ vote bank. But, now the farming community has become totally aware of the politics of falsehood being perpetrated and would not at all fall prey to the lollipop promises," he added.

Randhawa said that during the term of Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, the MSP of paddy crop increased six percent in first five years and 38 per cent in second five years term. "Whereas the Union Government till date has effected the increase up to 29 percent only which is a clear cut proof of fraud being perpetrated on the farmers," he said.

He said that Prime Minister and the BJP leaders are misguiding the farmers that the crop rates have been increased by one and a half percent which is a blatant lie. "The truth is that the Union Government is still unable to give MSP to the farmers as per the Swaminathan Committee recommendations," he said

Attacking further, Randhawa said that during the previous polls too, the BJP made false promises to the people at Bathinda and now with the polls fast approaching again, he would try to lure the farmers with his false promises but the farmers won’t fall into his trap again.