Farmers to oppose Modi’s Malout rally

CHANDIGARH/BATHINDA: Bharatiya Kisan Union president Balbir Singh Rajewal on Monday announced to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Malout in Muktsar district on July 11. Modi’s rally follows announcement by the Centre to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of 14 kharif crops, including paddy.

Rajewal called upon the farmers to take a conscious decision before attending the rally because the increase has not done any good to them as promised by the BJP before coming to power in 2014, to give 50% profit over the input cost as recommended by the Swaminathan commission.

“The gross benefit after the hike in paddy MSP comes to ₹4,500 per acre, but there has been steep hike in input cost – be it diesel, GST on pesticides and agricultural implements and increase in labour cost,” said Rajewal, while talking to the media. Farmers to protest in PM Narendra Modi’s rally in Malout on July 11

Meanwhile, another faction of the union BKU (Ekta Sidhupur) announced to hold a protest at the rally. State president of union Jagjeet Singh Dallewal said that central government and BJP was projecting ₹200 per quintal hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy as a big achievement, but the fact is that this hike is insufficient. HTC Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal (centre) addressing the media at the Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh on Monday. HT PHOTO