‘Farm Produce To Be Purchased At MSP, Modi Govt’s Guarantee’: Shivraj Chouhan In Rajya Sabha
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Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured the Rajya Sabha that all farm produce will be purchased at MSP, amid farmers’ protests demanding a legal guarantee.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Rajya Sabha (Photo: ANI)
All farm produce will be purchased at Minimum Support Price (MSP), Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
His remarks came on a day when the farmers are marching to Delhi to force the Centre for a legal guarantee for MSP for crops.
“All farm produce will be purchased at MSP, this is the Modi government’s guarantee,” Chouhan told the House.
“MSP is given when a crop is sold at rates lower than the MSP. I want to assure the welfare of farmers is our commitment. We have done the work of raising MSP and also buying crops on MSP,” he added.
On December 3, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had questioned Chouhan over the government not holding a dialogue with the farmers.
“Can we create a boundary between the farmer and the government? I do not understand why there is no dialogue with the farmers. My concern is why this initiative has not happened so far,” the Vice President had said.
“You (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) is the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. I am reminded of Sardar Patel, and his responsibility to unify the nation, which he did so excellently. This challenge is before you today, and it should not be considered any less than the unity of India. Agriculture Minister, did the Agriculture Minister who was there before you make any promise in writing? If a promise was made then what happened to it?.” he asked.
“India has never been at such a height in the world before. When this is happening, why is my farmer in distress? Why is he suffering? This is a serious issue, and to take it lightly means that we are not being practical, and our policy-making is not on the right track. No force in the country can suppress the voice of the farmer. A nation will pay a huge price if it tries the patience of a farmer,” Dhankhar had said.
