Unhappy with MSP, farmers to gherao Delhi on Feb 23

SAY THE PROMISE OF A MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE THAT IS 50% HIGHER THAN FARMERS’ COST OF PRODUCTION IS MISLEADING AS GOVT DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OTHER EXPENSES

KARNAL: Alleging that they got a raw deal in the Union budget this time, farmers’ unions in Punjab and Haryana have decided to gherao Delhi on February 23.

Farmers say that finance minister Arun Jaitley’s promise of ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of 1.5 times the production of kharif crops is “misleading” as it is less that the current MSP.

“The formula adopted by the union government to fix the production cost is wrong as according to this formula, the MSP for wheat will be ₹1,280 per quintal against the present MSP of ₹1,735,” said Gurnam Singh Chaduni, president of the Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union.

He added that the government did not keep in mind the interest of the agricultural loan taken by the farmer, expenditure on agriculture implements and annual rent of the land, while adopting the formula.

Ratan Mann, another farmers’ leader, alleged that government agencies do not purchase their crops, thus forcing them to sell their produce to private dealers at throwaway prices.

UNION STARTS MOBILISING FARMERS

About 20 farmer unions in the country are expected to join the protest under the banner of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh to pressurise the Union government to implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and also fulfil their demand of a complete loan waiver.

The union leaders are visiting all villages to mobilise famers to reach Delhi as per the schedule and make the rally a success. Leaders of six farmer unions from Haryana and four from Punjab are expected to reach Delhi on their tractor trolleys on the first day of the protest.