Sangh affiliate BKS demands law on MSP for better support price, to launch countrywide agitation tomorrow

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 7  

Sangh affiliate Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, which is demanding a “stringent law” for Minimum Support Price for all crops to ensure a profitable price to farmers depending upon the actual cost of production, is holding a nationwide agitation tomorrow. The BKS has given the Narendra Modi Government 10 days to decide on the issue after which announce the next step, said general secretary Badri Narayan Chaudhary

This includes “pushing a private member bill through the Parliament”.

Chaudhary said unlike the ongoing farmers’ agitation headed by the SKM, their demands were focused on getting a profitable support price for farmers, especially for the small and medium ones. 

“A law on MSP is their (SKM/farmers’ unions) secondary demand—for us, it is the primary issue. The current MSP is not sufficient, it is a ‘chhalava’ (illusion). Moreover, it only benefits nine per cent of farmers of the country in two-three states,” Chaudhary said.

“We support the three central farm laws because they are in favour of farmers. They should be implemented as fast as possible after some amendments that we have suggested”. 

Regarding the ongoing farmers’ agitation, the Sangh leader said: “Farming cannot be the prime responsibility of those sitting at borders for nine months. Either they are very rich farmers or they are not farmers”.

On assertions that the Narendra Modi government implemented the Swaminathan Commission recommendation of MSP at 1.5 times the cost of production, Chaudhary said a proper committee should be constituted to look into all aspects. “Farmers cannot be treated like unskilled labour,  they are businessmen who take loans to run their business, they are entrepreneurs and also management persons and should be treated like them.

“The fact is, by declaring MSP of some crops the government cannot shy away from its responsibility. Not only MSP, there should also be arrangements for their proper purchase which is only possible under a stringent law for a profitable price depending on the cost of production,” he said.