Farmer Leaders Slam 'Meagre' MSP Hike, Demand Legal Guarantee

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal criticized the Centre for what he called a 'meagre' hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. He demanded a legal guarantee that crops be purchased at MSP and expressed concerns that the hike doesn't address the rising costs of inputs like fertilizers and diesel. The farmers announced plans for protests to ensure their demands are met.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Thursday rejected the 'meagre' hike in minimum support price of crops and alleged that the BJP-led Centre had 'defrauded' the farmers of the country. 'We demand that a legal guarantee be given to the farmers. Our crops should be procured at the MSP,' he said.

This comes as, on Wednesday, the Centre raised the MSP for paddy by 5.35 per cent to Rs 2,300 per quintal for the 2024-25 kharif marketing season. Addressing the media here on Thursday, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Dallewal called the hike in MSP 'meagre.'

Dallewal argued that farmers have to pay for fertilizers and diesel, which are not factored into the MSP. 'It is a fraud with the farmers of the country,' he alleged, claiming that farmers are not going to benefit from this hike.

He asserted that there should be a guarantee that farmers' crops are purchased at the assured price. Dallewal cited instances where the cotton crop was sold at far below the MSP, questioning the benefit of announcing MSP in the first place.

Dallewal also pointed out that only paddy and wheat crops are purchased at MSP, and this happens only in some areas. This, he argued, is why farmers are demanding a law that ensures fair pricing as per the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report.

On July 8, farmers plan to present memorandums to all MPs, excluding BJP lawmakers, urging them to address the issue of a legal guarantee for MSP in Parliament. Dallewal also criticized the Punjab government for allegedly failing to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced plans for a protest against the Haryana Police in Ambala on July 17 over the arrest of farmer activist Navdeep Singh who was detained in March during ongoing protests. The SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are leading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, which include a legal guarantee for MSP.

The farmers have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was halted by security forces.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)