Women protesters in forefront, make their presence felt

ibune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 21

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday dismissed the Centre’s hike in MSP of wheat and five other rabi crops as a cruel joke on the farmers amid their growing apprehensions about abolition of the MSP regime following the passage of the new Agriculture Bills in Parliament.

“This is callous. They have made a mockery of the farmers’ protests over the farm Bills, which by all accounts will eventually pave the way for ending the minimum support price (MSP) system and abolish the Food Corporation of India,” said the Chief Minister.

He said if the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre thought it would appease the agitating farms with this trifling hike they clearly did not understand the situation.

The farmers have been asking for a written guarantee that MSP will not be tampered with, but instead, the Centre has handed out to them a measly offering, said the Chief Minister, adding that this once again showed how little the BJP and its allies, including the SAD, knew about the farmers and their problems.

The Chief Minister said the farmers are at present worried about their future, and that of their families, and only want categorical and clear commitments, in black and white, that their produce will continue to be procured in the APMC markets at a minimum assured price.