Varun googly on agri demand puts Yogi govt on sticky wicket

After openly supporting the farmers’ stir, BJP MP Varun Gandhi has once again made his own government uncomfortable. The three-time firebrand BJP MP from Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath raising seven demands from farmers. Most of the demands are those raised during the recently held Kisan Maha Panchayat at Muzaffarnagar.

He has asked the UP government to increase sugarcane price to Rs400 per quintal from Rs315 and ensure 100% purchase of wheat andpaddy on MSP. In addition, he has also raised the issue of nonpayment of sugarcane dues, reduction in power tariff for farmers and effective control on stray cattle. In the letter, Varun has stated that he is confident the government would listen to the voice of the peasants.

Known for his straight talk, Varun Gandhi had earlier supported farmers during the Maha Panchayat at Muzaffarnagar. He had said that the farmers who had gathered in the panchayat were our own flesh and blood and there is a need to start reengaging with them in a respectful manner, understand their pain, their point of view and work with them in reaching common ground.

In the letter to Yogi, the BJP MP has said the cost of production has increased in the recent days and with sugarcane being the only important cash crop, the state government should increase its

price to Rs400 per quintal.

He also demanded immediate payment of cane dues to farmers. Varun has raised the issue of government procurement of wheat and paddy. In the letter, he has demanded that 100% produce of farmers be purchased at MSP.

Besides, a bonus of Rs200 per quintal, be paid to the wheat and paddy farmers by the government procurement agencies. He said problem of stray cattle should be solved by created more and more shelters for them. He also termed the Rs6,000 annual grant to farmers in the name of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi as insufficient and asked to increase it to Rs12,000 per year.

Varun said the state government could make its own

contribution of Rs6,000 in it. He demanded that farmers be given a subsidy of Rs20 a litre on the purchase of diesel for agriculture purposes.