Justify your move on MSP for 24 crops: Dallewal to Haryana Govt

Farm leader Abhimanyu Kohar, speaking on behalf of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose indefinite fast entered the 30th day on Wednesday, raised two questions over the Haryana Government’s notification about the procurement of 24 crops on minimum support price (MSP).

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Kohar said the first question was whether any state could declare the MSP of crops at its own level, as done by the Haryana Government.

The second question related to Haryana Government’s guarantee to procure 24 crops on MSP even as the Centre had declared the MSP for only 23 crops. “The state governments procure crops for the central pool for which funds are provided by the Centre. Can any state government procure crops on MSP at its own level,” he asked.

Kohar asked Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and his government to clarify on the two issues.

Farm leader Surjit Singh Phool expressed hope that the people of Punjab would give a big response to the “Punjab Bandh” call by keeping their shops closed and vehicles off the roads. Farmers would, however, not force people to close shops or businesses, he added.

Punjab ministers Aman Arora, Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal, Dr Balbir Singh, Barinder Goyal, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Taranpreet Singh Sond, Laljit Singh Bhullar and Hardeep Singh Mundian visited the Khanauri protest site to meet Dallewal on Wednesday evening. Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujala also met Dallewal in the morning.

Dallewal’s health condition has been worsening. A doctor who examined him said Dallewal’s body was now very weak and he had lost a lot of weight due to prolonged starvation.

The gathering of farmers at the Khanauri protest site has been increasing by the day. Farmers have been putting up tents there to organise langars for those visiting the protest site. A big tin shed has been erected in front of the stage there.