Govt Vs Opposition in RS over legal guarantee to MSP

A showdown between the Opposition and the Treasury benches over giving legal status to minimum support price for crops to farmers took place in Rajya Sabha on Friday, with Congress alleging that by not acceding to the demand the Narendra Modi government has betrayed farmers and that they will not forgive it for this.

SP MP Ramji Lal Suman had asked a starred (written) question on whether the Centre would accede to the demand for giving legal guarantee of MSP to farmers. When the issue came up during question hour in the House, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tried to answer the supplementary questions raised by Rajya Sabha members on the issue but failed to convince them. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar made a futile attempt to control the Opposition and said they were not cooperating on the sensitive issue of farmers’ rights.

“Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and the farmer is its soul. Serving the farmer is akin to praying to God,” Chouhan said. Referring to the committee formed to look into the MSP issue, he said, “The committee was formed with three issues in focus – the first to ensure MSP is provided to farmers and the process is made more effective and transparent. Along with it, the aim was to look at ways to give more independence to the Committee on Agriculture Cost and Prices (CACP) and to upgrade the system in keeping with the changing times. The committee is studying issues related to cultivation of different varieties of crops and natural farming.” Once the committee submits its report, the government would consider it, he assured.

The Opposition demanded a specific reply on whether the government intended to bring a law on MSP and whether the Swaminathan Committee formula would be implemented in deciding the quantum. Chouhan charged the opposition with playing politics on the issue, displaying a Cabinet note of the erstwhile Manmohan Singh government on MSP which stated that following this formula would contort the market. The minister further referred to the statements made by Kantilal Bhuria, Sharad Pawar and KV Thomas during UPA rule that the government was guided by CACP on the issue.

The Opposition was on its feet in protest and Dhankhar even named Congress member Randeep Singh Surjewala and directed him to leave the House. Later, while talking to the media, Surjewala alleged Chouhan had betrayed farmers by “ruling out” a law on MSP. “Moreover, he has refused to give MSP on the C2 (input cost, labour and rent of the farmland) plus 50% (Swaminathan Committee recommended formula) criteria. Crores of farmers will not forgive the Modi government for this. Betrayal of this government against 72 crore farmers of the country was exposed in Parliament today,” he said. Surjewala raised Mandsaur farmers’ protest during Chouhan’s chief ministership in MP, saying he had played Holi with the blood of farmers. Six farmers were killed in police firing during the 2017 protests.