News Analysis India

Tag: msp

  • bjp manifesto: New and old promises in BJP manifesto

    New Delhi: The BJP has made a host of new promises in its Lok Sabha poll manifesto including for farmers’ empowerment like the launch of a Krishi Infrastructure Mission for coordinated implementation of agri-infrastructure projects, while steering clear of some others mentioned in the past. In its 2024 manifesto, the BJP has repeated its promise on implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and reiterated its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code but has skipped the contentious issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC).

    “There has been a huge change in the cultural and linguistic identity of some areas due to illegal immigration, resulting in an adverse impact on local people’s livelihood and employment.

    “We will expeditiously complete the National Register of Citizens process in these areas on priority. In future we will implement the NRC in a phased manner in other parts of the country,” the party had stated in its 2019 manifesto. In its last Lok Sabha poll manifesto, the BJP had promised to double the farmers’ income by 2022, but the opposition has accused it of failing to deliver on its assurance and has also been cornering it on the demand for legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).

    The party’s 2024 poll manifesto stated that the BJP government empowered farmers through a variety of measures including soil health card, micro-irrigation, crop insurance, seed supply, and direct financial assistance under PM Kisan Samman Yojana.

    “We have ensured (an) unprecedented increase in the MSP (minimum support price) for major crops and we will continue to increase it from time to time. We are providing annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. We are committed to sustained financial support for our farmers,” it said. The BJP promised to further strengthen the crop insurance scheme PM Fasal Bima Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution. “We have incentivised crop diversification with appropriate price support strategy. Building on this, we are committed to further expand crop diversification to make agriculture sustainable and remunerative,” it said.

    “We will support Annadatas to make Bharat Atma Nirbhar (self-reliant) in the production of pulses (like tur, urad, masoor, moong and chana) and edible oil production like mustard, soybean, til and groundnut,” it added.

    The BJP promised to expand the irrigation facility and launch a Krishi Infrastructure Mission for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of agri-infrastructure projects like storage facilities, irrigation, grading and sorting units, cold storage facilities, and food processing among others if voted to power.

    “We will launch a National Mission on Natural Farming to promote nature-friendly, climate-resilient, remunerative agriculture for food and nutrition secure Bharat,” it said and added, “We are committed to supporting our Kisan families and empower them to lead better lives.”

    The BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha poll manifesto has paid greater attention to the issues of the fishermen as compared to that of its 2019 manifesto, with the party making a host of promises to advance their prosperity and welfare.

    “We are committed to advancing the prosperity and welfare of our fishermen by enhancing fisheries through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, modernising infrastructure, and providing financial support and skill development. Our efforts are aimed at empowering fishermen families to thrive and contribute to the nation’s Blue Revolution,” the manifesto said.

    “We will further extend the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana to increase fish production and increase our annual seafood exports,” it added.

    The BJP also promised to further strengthen and expand the insurance coverage available under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution.

    “We will develop production and processing clusters with special attention to women of coastal communities. We will boost seaweed cultivation under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to increase the income of fishermen.

    “We will create sustainable livelihood opportunities for fishermen through the promotion of pearl farming,” the party manifesto said.

    As its 2019 poll promise of construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya stands fulfilled, the BJP in its 2024 manifesto expressed its commitment to a “holistic” development of Ayodhya and promised to launch a global outreach programme for promoting the legacy of Lord Ram.

    The party also promised that it would celebrate ‘Ramayan Utsav’ across the globe to commemorate the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla at the recently built temple in Ayodhya if it retains power.

  • Farmer leader after meeting with Union ministers: ‘Will continue with ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Feb 21 if…’ – The Economic Times Video

    After the fourth round of talks, General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarvan Singh Pandher asserted that the farmers will continue to move forward with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 21 adding that the discussion will also be held on the proposal proposed by the government on MSP.

  • Social media accounts suspended, govt trying to suppress our voice: Farmer leader Pandher

    Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Friday accused the Centre of trying to “suppress” the voices of the protesters, claiming social media accounts of farmers and YouTubers have been suspended. Protesting farmers have stayed put at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab’s border with Haryana for the fourth day after their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press the Centre for various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops, was stopped by security forces which led to clashes.

    Union ministers and farmer leaders met on February 8, 12 and 15 to discuss the farmer unions’ demands but the talks remained inconclusive. The two sides will meet again on February 18 for a fourth round of talks.

    Talking to reporters on Friday, Pandher said that during the meeting with Union ministers a day ago, “we raised the issue of the suspension of Internet and Twitter (now X) handles of farmer leaders”. Also alleging that the government has suspended the accounts of around 70 YouTubers who were showing farmers’ protest, he said it appears “the government wants to suppress our voice.”

    Pandher said that during the talks with the Union ministers, they raised the issue of the use of “force” against farmers by the paramilitary personnel deployed at the Punjab-Haryana border who fired tear gas shells at the protesters.

    He claimed that around 70 farmers have sustained serious injuries in an action by Haryana security personnel at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The farmer leader said the talks with the Union ministers were held in a positive atmosphere and various demands of the protesters, including a law on MSP and debt waiver, were discussed. The government said they wanted to continue talks, Pandher said, adding that their ‘Delhi Chalo’ call still stands and the protesters were staying put at the Punjab-Haryana border so that a solution emerges through talks.

    On Thursday, Pandher said during the meeting with ministers they raised the issue of tear gas shelling by the paramilitary forces on farmers at the Shambhu and Khanuri borders. He said they showed the shells to the ministers during the meeting.

    Haryana Police on Friday again fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesting farmers when they moved towards the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala.

    Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal demanded the release of farmers who were either arrested or detained by the Haryana police.

    Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

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  • MSP to get legal guarantee if INDIA bloc comes to power: Rahul Gandhi in Bihar

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party will accept long-pending demands of farmers in the country and ensure a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) of crops if the INDIA bloc comes to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Addressing the ‘Kisan Nyay Panchayat’, a gathering of farmers, in Bihar’s Rohtas, as part of his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, Gandhi claimed that “cultivators are not getting the remunerative prices for their crops”.

    “If the INDIA bloc comes to power after the general elections, we will give a legal guarantee to MSP. Whenever farmers have asked for something from the Congress, it has been given to them. Be it loan waiver or MSP, we have always protected the interests of cultivators and will do so in future,” Gandhi said.

    His comment comes at a time when Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a farmers’ body, called for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Friday to press the BJP-led central government to accept cultivators’ demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops. Farmers from Punjab began their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Tuesday but were stopped by security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Delhi and Haryana.

    The protesting farmers have been camping at the border points ever since. Their agitation entered the fourth day on Friday.

    The Congress MP also slammed the BJP-led central government, accusing it of “transferring a considerable portion of funds of the defence budget into the pockets” of an industrialist. “The Centre’s defence budget is not for the welfare of jawans and all defence contracts are going to a corporate group only,” he alleged. Gandhi also criticised the Centre for the ‘Agniveer’ scheme, saying, the Union government has “divided the army into two categories – Agniveer and regulars”.

    “If an Agniveer is injured or martyred, they will not receive adequate compensation. Why is this discrimination? Why have they created separate categories in the Army for Agniveer and others?” the Congress MP asked.

    Earlier, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav joined Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’. which resumed from the party’s district office in Sasaram this morning and is expected to enter Uttar Pradesh through Mohania in Kaimur district in the evening.

    Yadav and Gandhi were seen sitting on the roof of a sports utility vehicle, which was slowly moving, and they waved at enthusiastic crowds that gathered along the main road of the town.

    Locals queued up on both sides of the road and watched the procession. Earlier, Yadav was seen driving the SUV with Gandhi and other leaders on board.

    Both leaders of the opposition ‘Mahagathbandhan’ will also address a public meeting in Kaimur around 3 pm on Friday.

    The ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, which started in Manipur on January 14, is scheduled to cover 6,713 km in 67 days, passing through 110 districts in 15 states, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20.

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  • Farmers lay siege to toll plazas in Punjab over debt waiver

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  Farmers of Punjab on Thursday intensified their protest and assured commuters of toll-free travel at 18 plazas in 10 districts of the state against the AAP government for ignoring their demands. Tense situation prevailed at a few places after farmers and toll plaza employees entered into heated arguments.

    The influential Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) – which has presence in Majha and Doaba regions of the state besides some parts of Malwa region – had given a call to hold protests at 18 toll plazas for a month from December 15 to January 15. The reason: to press the state to accept their various demands, including a farm debt waiver, remunerative prices for crops and compensation for damage to crops.

    Toll-free travel will be ensured by the protesting farmers at Amritsar (Kathunagal, Mannawala and Chiddan near Attari), Tarn Taran (Usma and Mannan), Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Moga, Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts have been made toll free.

    KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The government is pro-corporate and this is the reason why we have decided to make toll plazas free thus now any vehicle passing through the toll plazas will not pay any toll  till January 15.”

    Amarinder meets PM in Delhi, flags ‘poor’ law & order in PunjabFormer Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament House Complex in Delhi, and flagged the law-and-order situation in Punjab terming it quite grim. He added that he has seen the movement of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and does not want those to be repeated. Referring to growing clout of Amritpal Singh and his supporters and terming that it was a matter of grave concern, Amarinder, who joined the saffron party in September said, “The incident of arson outside a Gurdwara in Jalandhar by supporters of Amritpal Singh is worrisome. He is fashioning himself after Bhindranwale. The situation is quite grim.”

    CHANDIGARH:  Farmers of Punjab on Thursday intensified their protest and assured commuters of toll-free travel at 18 plazas in 10 districts of the state against the AAP government for ignoring their demands. Tense situation prevailed at a few places after farmers and toll plaza employees entered into heated arguments.

    The influential Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) – which has presence in Majha and Doaba regions of the state besides some parts of Malwa region – had given a call to hold protests at 18 toll plazas for a month from December 15 to January 15. The reason: to press the state to accept their various demands, including a farm debt waiver, remunerative prices for crops and compensation for damage to crops.

    Toll-free travel will be ensured by the protesting farmers at Amritsar (Kathunagal, Mannawala and Chiddan near Attari), Tarn Taran (Usma and Mannan), Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Moga, Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts have been made toll free.

    KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The government is pro-corporate and this is the reason why we have decided to make toll plazas free thus now any vehicle passing through the toll plazas will not pay any toll  till January 15.”

    Amarinder meets PM in Delhi, flags ‘poor’ law & order in Punjab
    Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament House Complex in Delhi, and flagged the law-and-order situation in Punjab terming it quite grim. He added that he has seen the movement of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and does not want those to be repeated. Referring to growing clout of Amritpal Singh and his supporters and terming that it was a matter of grave concern, Amarinder, who joined the saffron party in September said, “The incident of arson outside a Gurdwara in Jalandhar by supporters of Amritpal Singh is worrisome. He is fashioning himself after Bhindranwale. The situation is quite grim.”

  • Chhattisgarh: Abujhmad farmers sell paddy at MSP for first time

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR:  The ‘Masahati’ survey (a survey of un-surveyed villages) brings joy to the tribal residents of Abujhmad (meaning unfamiliar land) in Narayanpur district, south Chhattisgarh, as for the first time over 2,200 farmers sold their paddy at the minimum support price during the ongoing procurement by the state government for Kharif marketing year 2022-23.

    The area of Abujhmad, spread over 4000 sq. km, covers the region of Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada and remains surrounded by hilly mountainous even inhospitable terrain with densely forested landscape, having remained isolated for decades. The survey of the land was not carried out since independence owing to which the tribal inhabitants were not just deprived of government welfare schemes but faced many problems.

    The preliminary exercise on ‘Masahati’ survey in recent years now demolishing the myths associated with the dreadful little-known Abujhmad, the region where a strong belief prevailed for decades of being controlled by the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and purportedly converted into their bastion, with no reach of any civil administration.

    There are over 275 villages reported in the insurgency-hit Abujhmad, some 350 km south of Raipur, where the process of the survey was not done and so the state government didn’t have any records of these habitations. The state cabinet in 2019 took a decision to provide over 50 thousand tribal people living in these villages with Masahati khasra on the basis of preliminary records to get ‘patta’ (land title deed) as land ownership. 

    “We have initiated concrete action for the people living in Abujhmad and the positive results are now visible at the ground-level’’, said CM Bhupesh Baghel. “246 villages were notified for the ‘Masahati survey’ of the Narayanpur district by the revenue department. So far 110 villages have been successfully completed. Masahati khasra has been distributed to more than 7700 residents in the region”, said the officials in Narayanpur district.

    With no land-related documents owing to a lack of survey earlier, many farmers neither could access the benefits of the government schemes nor secure agriculture loans from banks. For the first time after the farmers got the ownership rights, the Abujhmad farmers in Narayanpur have begun selling their paddy, the officials added. The government believes that around 10 thousand farmers will soon get ownership of over 50 thousand hectares of land in Abujhmad.

    “After getting masahati khasra, the farmers are selling their paddy for the first time at the support price. Earlier we were compelled to give away our produce to middlemen at less than half the price. I sold 32 quintals of paddy this year”, said Pappu Potai, a farmer of Kandadi village in Narayanpur. The farmers of Abujhmad are now also getting solar dual pumps for irrigation purposes, bank loans, horticulture tool kits, and even caste certificates. 

    RAIPUR:  The ‘Masahati’ survey (a survey of un-surveyed villages) brings joy to the tribal residents of Abujhmad (meaning unfamiliar land) in Narayanpur district, south Chhattisgarh, as for the first time over 2,200 farmers sold their paddy at the minimum support price during the ongoing procurement by the state government for Kharif marketing year 2022-23.

    The area of Abujhmad, spread over 4000 sq. km, covers the region of Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada and remains surrounded by hilly mountainous even inhospitable terrain with densely forested landscape, having remained isolated for decades. The survey of the land was not carried out since independence owing to which the tribal inhabitants were not just deprived of government welfare schemes but faced many problems.

    The preliminary exercise on ‘Masahati’ survey in recent years now demolishing the myths associated with the dreadful little-known Abujhmad, the region where a strong belief prevailed for decades of being controlled by the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and purportedly converted into their bastion, with no reach of any civil administration.

    There are over 275 villages reported in the insurgency-hit Abujhmad, some 350 km south of Raipur, where the process of the survey was not done and so the state government didn’t have any records of these habitations. The state cabinet in 2019 took a decision to provide over 50 thousand tribal people living in these villages with Masahati khasra on the basis of preliminary records to get ‘patta’ (land title deed) as land ownership. 

    “We have initiated concrete action for the people living in Abujhmad and the positive results are now visible at the ground-level’’, said CM Bhupesh Baghel. “246 villages were notified for the ‘Masahati survey’ of the Narayanpur district by the revenue department. So far 110 villages have been successfully completed. Masahati khasra has been distributed to more than 7700 residents in the region”, said the officials in Narayanpur district.

    With no land-related documents owing to a lack of survey earlier, many farmers neither could access the benefits of the government schemes nor secure agriculture loans from banks. For the first time after the farmers got the ownership rights, the Abujhmad farmers in Narayanpur have begun selling their paddy, the officials added. The government believes that around 10 thousand farmers will soon get ownership of over 50 thousand hectares of land in Abujhmad.

    “After getting masahati khasra, the farmers are selling their paddy for the first time at the support price. Earlier we were compelled to give away our produce to middlemen at less than half the price. I sold 32 quintals of paddy this year”, said Pappu Potai, a farmer of Kandadi village in Narayanpur. The farmers of Abujhmad are now also getting solar dual pumps for irrigation purposes, bank loans, horticulture tool kits, and even caste certificates. 

  • Farmers stage protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demand legal guarantee for MSP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Scores of farmers affiliated with the All India Kisan Congress gathered at the Jantar Mantar here on Friday, demanding legal guarantee for MSP and compensation for the kin of farmers killed in last year’s agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws.

    Thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, protested at the borders of the national capital for over a year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced repealing the three laws in November.

    The Congress’ unit for farmers on Friday accused the BJP-led central government of not cooperating with the farmers and reneging on its promises made to them following which, the year-long stir at Delhi borders was suspended.

    Addressing a sea of protestors amid heavy security, Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala criticised the Modi government for failing to fulfil the promises it has made to the farmers last year. He called the Narendra Modi-led government “anti-farmer”.

    “It is because of the anti-farmer approach of the Modi government. This is one of the reasons why they find it difficult to implement MSP,” he said.

    “This protest should not be limited to Jantar Mantar. We should take it forward and fight for the rights of farmers, who feed the nation,” he added.

    “Even though Congress has lost the election it has not lost the courage to fight. Modi government has failed to deliver on the promise of implementing a MSP law,” party leader Alka Lamba said.

    Speaking to PTI, Hargobind Singh, joint coordinator of the AIKC, said, “Central government is neither cooperating with the farmers nor addressing their issues. It has been over a year since the anti-farm laws protest ended, but the government’s promise of ensuring MSP to farmers has not been fulfilled yet.”

    “The centre should immediately release the compensation for the families of farmers who sacrificed their lives while fighting for their rights. It is unfortunate that the Centre does not even have the list of those who lost their lives during the protest. How will they even release the compensation?” he asked.

    “The Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme must be implemented soon. The country still does not have a proper law for farmers which can directly benefit them,” he added.

    Holding the Congress party’s flag and raising slogans of “jai jawan, jai kisan”, farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and some southern states gathered at the 18th-century observatory. The farmers said they are protesting against the BJP government’s “anti-farmers policies”.

    Dileep Singh, who hails from Punjab, asserted that the farmers should get their due rights.

    “We have come here to protest against the Modi government and its anti-farmers policies. Farmers are being suppressed under this regime. We have gathered here for our rights. We believe that farmers should get their due rights.”

    Kailash Yadav, who has come from Jaipur, said, “We are here to strengthen the farmers’ movement. We are here in solidarity with our farmers who have been facing many problems under the present government.”

    “We are not getting proper MSP and we were told that our salary would double but nothing of this sort has happened,” he added.

    NEW DELHI: Scores of farmers affiliated with the All India Kisan Congress gathered at the Jantar Mantar here on Friday, demanding legal guarantee for MSP and compensation for the kin of farmers killed in last year’s agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws.

    Thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, protested at the borders of the national capital for over a year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced repealing the three laws in November.

    The Congress’ unit for farmers on Friday accused the BJP-led central government of not cooperating with the farmers and reneging on its promises made to them following which, the year-long stir at Delhi borders was suspended.

    Addressing a sea of protestors amid heavy security, Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala criticised the Modi government for failing to fulfil the promises it has made to the farmers last year. He called the Narendra Modi-led government “anti-farmer”.

    “It is because of the anti-farmer approach of the Modi government. This is one of the reasons why they find it difficult to implement MSP,” he said.

    “This protest should not be limited to Jantar Mantar. We should take it forward and fight for the rights of farmers, who feed the nation,” he added.

    “Even though Congress has lost the election it has not lost the courage to fight. Modi government has failed to deliver on the promise of implementing a MSP law,” party leader Alka Lamba said.

    Speaking to PTI, Hargobind Singh, joint coordinator of the AIKC, said, “Central government is neither cooperating with the farmers nor addressing their issues. It has been over a year since the anti-farm laws protest ended, but the government’s promise of ensuring MSP to farmers has not been fulfilled yet.”

    “The centre should immediately release the compensation for the families of farmers who sacrificed their lives while fighting for their rights. It is unfortunate that the Centre does not even have the list of those who lost their lives during the protest. How will they even release the compensation?” he asked.

    “The Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme must be implemented soon. The country still does not have a proper law for farmers which can directly benefit them,” he added.

    Holding the Congress party’s flag and raising slogans of “jai jawan, jai kisan”, farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and some southern states gathered at the 18th-century observatory. The farmers said they are protesting against the BJP government’s “anti-farmers policies”.

    Dileep Singh, who hails from Punjab, asserted that the farmers should get their due rights.

    “We have come here to protest against the Modi government and its anti-farmers policies. Farmers are being suppressed under this regime. We have gathered here for our rights. We believe that farmers should get their due rights.”

    Kailash Yadav, who has come from Jaipur, said, “We are here to strengthen the farmers’ movement. We are here in solidarity with our farmers who have been facing many problems under the present government.”

    “We are not getting proper MSP and we were told that our salary would double but nothing of this sort has happened,” he added.

  • Govt cheating farmers, MSP hike less than even inflation rate: Congress

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday accused the Modi government of cheating farmers and said the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for rabi crops announced by it is even lesser than the rate of inflation.

    Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said even as the BJP dispensation is patting its back for MSPs, it has in fact “duped the farmers” and claimed that their hard labour has got lost in the lights of Diwali.

    “The Modi government has once again cheated the farmers on the MSPs. The MSP of Annadata farmers’ hard work got lost again in the lights of Diwali. The Modi government patted its back by announcing the MSP of rabi crops, but duped the farmer and left them to shed tears of blood,” he said in a series of tweets in Hindi.

    Calling out the BJP for what it called as “fraud with farmers”, he said the bitter truth is that the Modi government only announces MSP but does not buy crops on the MSP and demanded that the MSP law granting legal status to MSP is urgently required.

    “BJP’s ‘Shakuni Chausar’ has made the farmer’s life difficult. No Cost+50 percent, no fair price nor enough buying. Neither is the law on MSP being made. Modi ji promised in 2014 that he will give cost plus 50 per cent to farmers. Cost+50 per cent is far away, the declared MSP is less than the MSP demanded by the BJP governments themselves,” he claimed, alleging betrayal with the annadata.

    ALSO READ | Modi government forms panel to make ‘more effective and transparent’ MSP

    The Rajya Sabha MP said leaders can say rhetoric, but statistics don’t lie, claiming that the Congress-UPA government increased the MSP by 205 per cent while in the last eight years of the Modi government, the increase in MSP is only 40 per cent. “The MSP declared by the Modi government is even less than the inflation rate of the country. Inflation increased more and the MSP was less. “Countrymen, please think and speak about the 70 crore farmers and farm labourers of the country for two minutes on Diwali. Think about the toiling farmer-labourer, because of whom you eat even if he destroys himself. Happy Diwali everyone. Jai Jawan,” he said.

    The central government earlier this week raised the MSP of six rabi crops by up to 9 per cent, with Rs 110 per quintal increase for wheat crop to boost domestic production and farmers’ income. Wheat MSP has been raised by 5.45 per cent to Rs 2,125 per quintal from Rs 2,015 per quintal to encourage more area under the crop amid tight government stock position owing to low procurement, fall in production and higher exports.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday accused the Modi government of cheating farmers and said the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for rabi crops announced by it is even lesser than the rate of inflation.

    Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said even as the BJP dispensation is patting its back for MSPs, it has in fact “duped the farmers” and claimed that their hard labour has got lost in the lights of Diwali.

    “The Modi government has once again cheated the farmers on the MSPs. The MSP of Annadata farmers’ hard work got lost again in the lights of Diwali. The Modi government patted its back by announcing the MSP of rabi crops, but duped the farmer and left them to shed tears of blood,” he said in a series of tweets in Hindi.

    Calling out the BJP for what it called as “fraud with farmers”, he said the bitter truth is that the Modi government only announces MSP but does not buy crops on the MSP and demanded that the MSP law granting legal status to MSP is urgently required.

    “BJP’s ‘Shakuni Chausar’ has made the farmer’s life difficult. No Cost+50 percent, no fair price nor enough buying. Neither is the law on MSP being made. Modi ji promised in 2014 that he will give cost plus 50 per cent to farmers. Cost+50 per cent is far away, the declared MSP is less than the MSP demanded by the BJP governments themselves,” he claimed, alleging betrayal with the annadata.

    ALSO READ | Modi government forms panel to make ‘more effective and transparent’ MSP

    The Rajya Sabha MP said leaders can say rhetoric, but statistics don’t lie, claiming that the Congress-UPA government increased the MSP by 205 per cent while in the last eight years of the Modi government, the increase in MSP is only 40 per cent. “The MSP declared by the Modi government is even less than the inflation rate of the country. Inflation increased more and the MSP was less. “Countrymen, please think and speak about the 70 crore farmers and farm labourers of the country for two minutes on Diwali. Think about the toiling farmer-labourer, because of whom you eat even if he destroys himself. Happy Diwali everyone. Jai Jawan,” he said.

    The central government earlier this week raised the MSP of six rabi crops by up to 9 per cent, with Rs 110 per quintal increase for wheat crop to boost domestic production and farmers’ income. Wheat MSP has been raised by 5.45 per cent to Rs 2,125 per quintal from Rs 2,015 per quintal to encourage more area under the crop amid tight government stock position owing to low procurement, fall in production and higher exports.

  • Jantar Mantar protest: Farmers charm the lot with traditional attire, emotional connect 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Among the hundreds of farmers who began their demonstration at the Jantar Mantar over a slew of issues, 64-year-old Sriaj Kodyuriv from Kerala garnered the most attention with his ‘Adivasi’ attire Kodyuriv reached Delhi on Monday after covering a three-day train journey from Kerala.

    For several hours, he stood at Jantar Mantar holding placards that read Implement MSP, Save farmer’.

    “Farmers are closest to nature. If they abandon their farm equipment, we won’t be getting any food. I am here for this,” Kodyuriv said.

    Asked why he chose the ‘Adivasi’ attire, he said: “This is to send a message that the farmers and tribal people deserve their rights.

    “Jantar Mantar buzzed with voices of dissent on Monday as farmers from all over the country gathered here demanding a law ensuring minimum support price for crops, farm loan waiver, and sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

    Ajay Mishra is the father of Ashish Mishra, an accused in a case related to mowing down four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh during a farmer protest last October.

    Farmers, hundreds in number, launched their protest amid heavy security arrangements in a ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) at Jantar Mantar.

    They waved flags, wore caps with the name of their farm organisations inscribed on them, and raised slogans for farmer unity and against the Centre accusing it of not coming good on its promises.

    Farmers protested at the Gazipur border in New Delhi.Express video | @parveennegi1. pic.twitter.com/3WRQltgFuQ
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 22, 2022
    Magha Nibori, a farmer from Punjab with one acre of farmland which he cultivates with seasonal crops, said he came here fully prepared to stay put, if required.

    Many travelled thousands of kilometres to take part in the mahapanchayat.

    “I am here from Cochin. Around 250 people have come from Kerala and nearby states to urge PM Modi to agree to our demands regarding MSP law, and other issues. We want India to withdraw from the WTO. Ajay Mishra should resign,” said Paulsen, a 50-year-old farmer from Cochin, Kerala.

    Many farmers registered their protests in their own unique ways.

    One of them came wearing a garland of garlic, while another, a woman, wore a saree with tricolours.

    “The government made a promise but now they are not doing anything. There is no concrete action taken by the government. If we can raise a person to power. We can also bring him down. The government should understand this,” Kavita, clad in tricolour print saree, said.

    As farmers associated with different unions reached Delhi, police obstructed their way to the protest site erecting deep layers of barricades across entry points of the city, and checked every vehicle entering the national capital, causing huge traffic jams.

    Besides the borders, Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri, key stretches on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, the Palam flyover, Aurobindo Marg, Ring Road (near Indraprastha Park), the Ghaziabad-Wazirabad road, and the Munirka road, and several other stretches, witnessed traffic snarls.

    Other than north India, farmers from states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Kerala arrived in Delhi to take part in the ‘mahapanchayat.’

    NEW DELHI: Among the hundreds of farmers who began their demonstration at the Jantar Mantar over a slew of issues, 64-year-old Sriaj Kodyuriv from Kerala garnered the most attention with his ‘Adivasi’ attire Kodyuriv reached Delhi on Monday after covering a three-day train journey from Kerala.

    For several hours, he stood at Jantar Mantar holding placards that read Implement MSP, Save farmer’.

    “Farmers are closest to nature. If they abandon their farm equipment, we won’t be getting any food. I am here for this,” Kodyuriv said.

    Asked why he chose the ‘Adivasi’ attire, he said: “This is to send a message that the farmers and tribal people deserve their rights.

    “Jantar Mantar buzzed with voices of dissent on Monday as farmers from all over the country gathered here demanding a law ensuring minimum support price for crops, farm loan waiver, and sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

    Ajay Mishra is the father of Ashish Mishra, an accused in a case related to mowing down four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh during a farmer protest last October.

    Farmers, hundreds in number, launched their protest amid heavy security arrangements in a ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) at Jantar Mantar.

    They waved flags, wore caps with the name of their farm organisations inscribed on them, and raised slogans for farmer unity and against the Centre accusing it of not coming good on its promises.

    Farmers protested at the Gazipur border in New Delhi.
    Express video | @parveennegi1. pic.twitter.com/3WRQltgFuQ
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 22, 2022
    Magha Nibori, a farmer from Punjab with one acre of farmland which he cultivates with seasonal crops, said he came here fully prepared to stay put, if required.

    Many travelled thousands of kilometres to take part in the mahapanchayat.

    “I am here from Cochin. Around 250 people have come from Kerala and nearby states to urge PM Modi to agree to our demands regarding MSP law, and other issues. We want India to withdraw from the WTO. Ajay Mishra should resign,” said Paulsen, a 50-year-old farmer from Cochin, Kerala.

    Many farmers registered their protests in their own unique ways.

    One of them came wearing a garland of garlic, while another, a woman, wore a saree with tricolours.

    “The government made a promise but now they are not doing anything. There is no concrete action taken by the government. If we can raise a person to power. We can also bring him down. The government should understand this,” Kavita, clad in tricolour print saree, said.

    As farmers associated with different unions reached Delhi, police obstructed their way to the protest site erecting deep layers of barricades across entry points of the city, and checked every vehicle entering the national capital, causing huge traffic jams.

    Besides the borders, Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri, key stretches on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, the Palam flyover, Aurobindo Marg, Ring Road (near Indraprastha Park), the Ghaziabad-Wazirabad road, and the Munirka road, and several other stretches, witnessed traffic snarls.

    Other than north India, farmers from states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Kerala arrived in Delhi to take part in the ‘mahapanchayat.’

  • Punjab farmers squat on rail tracks as part of SKM’s protest against Centre over MSP, Lakhimpur violence

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab farmers squatted on rail tracks at several places as part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s nationwide stir against the Centre “reneging on its promises” made when the protest against now-repealed farm laws was withdrawn last year.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said trains will be stopped from 11 am till 3 pm in Punjab.

    The four-hour protest is likely to disrupt train movement in the state, causing inconvenience to passengers.

    The protesters squatted on rail tracks at several places, including Jalandhar, Phillaur, Ferozepur and Bathinda.

    The demands of the farmers include a legal guarantee for the minimum support price and justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, Lakhowal said.

    Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri in violence that erupted when farmers were protesting against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area on October 3 last year.

    Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra is accused in the case.

    Farmers are demanding the sacking of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra.

    They are also demanding the withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during the anti-farm laws protest last year, compensation to the families of farmers who lost their lives during the stir and rollback of the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the defence forces.

    About the panel on minimum support price formed by the Centre recently, Lakhowal said the government included in the committee officers and farmers who were in favour of the now-repealed farm laws.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union (Kadian) president Harmeet Singh Kadian, participating in the protest at Phillaur railway station, said the farmers were holding the protest on the call given by the SKM.

    Farmers said they were forced to squat on rail tracks as the Centre was “not listening to their demands”.

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab farmers squatted on rail tracks at several places as part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s nationwide stir against the Centre “reneging on its promises” made when the protest against now-repealed farm laws was withdrawn last year.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said trains will be stopped from 11 am till 3 pm in Punjab.

    The four-hour protest is likely to disrupt train movement in the state, causing inconvenience to passengers.

    The protesters squatted on rail tracks at several places, including Jalandhar, Phillaur, Ferozepur and Bathinda.

    The demands of the farmers include a legal guarantee for the minimum support price and justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, Lakhowal said.

    Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri in violence that erupted when farmers were protesting against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area on October 3 last year.

    Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra is accused in the case.

    Farmers are demanding the sacking of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra.

    They are also demanding the withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during the anti-farm laws protest last year, compensation to the families of farmers who lost their lives during the stir and rollback of the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the defence forces.

    About the panel on minimum support price formed by the Centre recently, Lakhowal said the government included in the committee officers and farmers who were in favour of the now-repealed farm laws.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union (Kadian) president Harmeet Singh Kadian, participating in the protest at Phillaur railway station, said the farmers were holding the protest on the call given by the SKM.

    Farmers said they were forced to squat on rail tracks as the Centre was “not listening to their demands”.