CHANDIGARH, Oct 29: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the Central government of orchestrating a conspiracy against farmers in Punjab and Haryana by undermining the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system. Speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh on Tuesday, he claimed that the government seeks to eliminate MSP through covert means after facing backlash over the controversial farm laws, which have since been repealed.
Surjewala challenged Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to a debate on the issue, asserting that a significant reduction in paddy procurement this year compared to previous years indicates a deliberate strategy to weaken farmers. He highlighted that the government’s actions are part of a broader plan to dismantle grain markets and progressively diminish MSP, mirroring the agricultural policies implemented in Bihar.
The Congress leader noted that, until October 29, procurement figures revealed a sharp decline in paddy purchases: 82,88,450 metric tonnes from Punjab and Haryana—a stark contrast to previous years. Surjewala emphasized that in Haryana, only 1,33,114 out of 4,19,532 registered farmers sold their paddy on MSP, leaving over 2.86 lakh farmers without support.
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He criticized the government for slashing agricultural subsidies, claiming that Rs 3,30,000 crore in fertilizer, food, and fuel subsidies have been cut in the past five years. Surjewala pointed to a reduction in food subsidy allocations, asserting that these cuts disproportionately harm farmers and low-income laborers.
Surjewala also raised concerns over the reduction of registered farmers eligible for MSP, arguing that the decrease from 1,11,03,434 to 51,20,405 across 19 states within a year is alarming and suggests a systematic effort to sideline agricultural interests. He concluded by questioning how the government plans to meet procurement goals given the limited time remaining in the purchasing window, further asserting that the situation represents a betrayal of farmers’ trust. (PTI)
