Punjab Farmers outfits reject meagre hike in wheat MSP, demands on the pattern of Delhi Govt 

Punjab Farmers outfits reject meagre hike in wheat MSP, demands on the pattern of Delhi Govt 

Ferozepur, October 25, 2019: Punjab farmers outfits under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Punjab, President, Satnam Singh Pannu and Sarwan Singh Pandher, General Secretary in a joint statement to the media condemned the meagre increase in the MSP rate of Rs.85 per quintal.  Feeling cheated at the hands of Centre government, they demanded the rate of Rs.2667 per qtl, as per the recommendations of Dr.Swaminathan, on the pattern of Delhi government.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has also rejected Centre’s Rs.85 hike in MSP of wheat which is insufficient to provide even interim relief to the beleaguered farming community.

They said, the Modi government is planning to oust the 80 per cent farmers community from the agriculture profession, by making amendments in APMCA – Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act –  by handing over to the corporate houses by entering into agreement with 16 countries under RCEP – Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – a proposed free trade agreement – FTA between ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Burnei, Camboda, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Phillippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and six FTA partners – China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Farmer leaders demanded to fix the rates of the wheat crop at Rs.2667 per qtl on the pattern of Delhi government according to Dr.Swaminathan report, treating the farmer as skilful labour and ensure the marketing by the government by announcing the rates of 23 crops.

The leaders also demanded to form farmer-friendly policy with the provision of minimum pension of Rs.10,000 per month to the farmer labourers, stopping the unnecessary wages and pension to the elected political leaders besides waiving off Rs.18 lac crore loan of the farmers on the outlines of giving such benefit to the corporate houses.