BKU rejects increase in paddy MSP

Ludhiana, July 8

Accusing the NDA government of pursuing anti-farmer policies, the Bharti Kisan Union – Kadian (BKU) has rejected the increase of Rs180 per quintal in the minimum support price of paddy, while reiterating its demand to fix the MSP on the basis of recommendations made by Dr MS Swaminathan Committee.

Addressing a monthly meeting of the state committee at Sarabha Nagar Gurudwara here on Sunday, BKU president Harmeet Singh Kadian said the BKU along with other organisations of farmers had been struggling to press their demand for the determination of the MSP of various crops as per the formula suggested by Swaminathan Committee.

“BJP – the largest constituent of the NDA at the Centre, had made a poll promise to this effect prior to 2014 Lok Sabha elections. But after coming to power, the party betrayed farmers,” he said. Criticising the Congress government in Punjab for its failure to clearly define its credit policy for the farm sector, Kadian said the harassment of farmers by banks for default in repayment of loans continued even during the sowing season. On the one hand, the government was dithering on its promise for the remission of all agricultural loans and on the other, banks were tightening noose on defaulting farmers, which was having an adverse effect on farming in general and the paddy sowing in particular, he said. — OC