Punjab CM rejects meagre hike in MSP for paddy, termed it 'inadequate'

Punjab News Express/Jagmohan Singh
SHAHURA (Amritsar): Terming that the meager hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy was too inadequate to bail out farmers from agrarian crisis, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Government of India (GoI) to constitute an expert group to make agriculture a remunerative preposition. Center has made a hike of Rs.60 per quintal in the MSP.

Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program at Rajasansi assembly segment here today, Chief Minister said that the farmers of the country were facing an acute crisis and the GoI was duty-bound to bail out the food growers of nation from it. He said that farmer of Punjab needs special attention because in contrast with their peers across the country they treat their crop as their own child and pump in their all resources to nurture them. Mr. Badal said that the expert group must suggest ways and means to ensure that farming was made a profitable venture.

Strongly pleading for implementation of recommendations of renowned farm economist Dr MS Swaminathan, the Chief Minister said that it could immensely benefit the farmers of the country. Mr. Badal said that he had already requested the GoI for early implementation of these recommendations adding that he would again flag up this issue with them.

Terming the proposed agitations of Congress as a political gimmick, the Chief Minister said that the state government was already probing the issues raised by Congress leadership. He said it was unethical to name anyone as culprit until the enquiry report was submitted.

Urging the people to exercise restraint and observe anniversary of operation Blue Star on June 6 peacefully, the Chief Minister said that state government was committed to maintain peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state. He said that the state government was keeping a strict vigil over the entire situation and every effort would be made to maintain law and order in the state. “No one will be allowed to disturb the hard earned peace in the state at any cost”, he added.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the state Police was already probing the attack on Sikh preacher Sant Ranjit Sikh Dhadriawala for which a SIT has already been constituted. He said that there was no need for probe by any other agency as state Police was fully competent to deal with any such situation.

Exhorting the people to be prepared for struggle to save the waters of the state during his address in village Padheri, Shahura and Bacchiwind, the Chief Minister said Congress and AAP were inimical to the interests of the state and were hell bent upon depriving the state from its water. He said that every Punjabi would have to act as a 'watchdog' to save every single drop of water as if AAP and Congress succeed in their nefarious designs then no one could save Punjab from becoming a desert.