CM meets farmers’ delegation, promises to address issues
CM said the govt will not allow farmers’ produce to be sold below the minimum support price
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday sought to reassure state’s farmers that the government would not allow their produce to be sold below the minimum support price (MSP) and also said it would further increase the number of procurement centres for the purchase of wheat and paddy.
He gave this assurance to a farmers’ delegation that met him at his residence here in the backdrop of ongoing protests against the three agriculture bills passed by Parliament recently.
After emerging from the meeting Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who led the delegation, said “We discussed several issues like damages to crops during acquisition of farmers’ land, high power tariff for agriculture and possible elimination of the MSP.” “The CM assured of finding a solution to all the issues,” he said.
Tikait, however, avoided giving a direct reply to the question whether the BKU would still go ahead with its decision for the statewide agitation against the Bills on September 25. “He said he would further hold meetings with officials and we hope some solution would be found out,” Tikait hoped.
The CM, according to sources, tried to convince the delegation to withdraw its call for the statewide agitation.
He assured farmers’ leaders that government would not allow any crop to be bought below the MSP. He also said the government would ensure healthy competition between state’s mandis and the private players invoking the new provisions so that farmers could get a
better price for their produce.
The CM, sources said, also assured the delegation of making suitable amendments to the agriculture department’s order with regard to the burning of the crop residues.
“The CM briefed the delegation of the steps taken by the state government for the welfare of farmers, including record payment of sugarcane arrears and steps taken to tone up the law and order. The delegation members lauded the CM and left satisfied,” the government spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary, Atul Anjan on Wednesday flayed the Central government for the manner which it railroaded the agriculture bills in Parliament throwing all democratic norms to winds to further corporate interests.
Anjan, who is also general secretary of All-India Kisan Sabha, said he was mobilizing support all over the country for the success of nation-wide bandh on September 25. “We, on the behalf of the Kisan Sabha, will request President, Ram Nath Kovind not to give his assent to the three controversial farm Bills,” he said.