Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has once again criticised the BJP-led government for failing to uphold its commitment to provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) on 24 crops.
He stated that the government's claim has been exposed as farmers are not receiving MSP for their mustard produce.
Highlighting the plight of mustard farmers, Hooda revealed that despite the government setting the MSP for mustard at Rs 5,960 per quintal, it is being purchased in the market at only Rs 5,400 per quintal. This discrepancy is causing farmers to suffer a loss of approximately Rs 500 per quintal.
“Farmers have shared their mustard purchase receipts with us, exposing the reality of the market. The government is failing to ensure MSP enforcement, just as it did with paddy procurement last year. The exploitation of farmers has now begun with mustard as well,” Hooda stated.
BJP’s Broken Promises on MSP for Crops
Hooda accused the BJP of making false promises before elections by assuring farmers a rate higher than MSP on crops like paddy and wheat.
He pointed out that the BJP had promised Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy but failed to fulfill this commitment after coming to power. Moreover, no such provision was made in this year’s budget to support farmers, he added.
Citing the Economic Survey 2023-24, Hooda emphasised that government records themselves indicate a lack of MSP procurement across multiple crops. He highlighted key statistics showing that:
- Only 61% of mustard and 55% of wheat were purchased at MSP.
- MSP procurement for moong stood at just 25%, barley at 18%, and cotton at a mere 9%.
- The figures were even lower for bajra (29%) and maize (23%), while only 5% of sunflower was procured at MSP.
“These figures prove that the government is not purchasing most crops at MSP, leaving the majority of farmers to sell their produce at lower market rates,” Hooda asserted.
Fasal Bima Yojana Fails to Provide Timely Compensation
Hooda further criticised the government’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, calling it a failure in providing compensation to distressed farmers. Referring to the Economic Survey, he pointed out that 62 per cent of pending compensation, amounting to Rs 588 crore, has not yet been disbursed to farmers.
Addressing the recent farmer protests, Hooda condemned the Punjab government’s decision to forcibly end the agitation. He called the act of stopping farmers from marching to Delhi "undemocratic" and accused the BJP-led central government of ignoring their demands.
“The BJP government should listen to the farmers instead of suppressing their voices. They must guarantee MSP and ensure fair procurement policies,” Hooda stated.
With farmers facing financial losses and government data exposing MSP shortfalls, Hooda reiterated that the BJP’s promises to farmers remain unfulfilled, further deepening the agrarian crisis in the country.
Also Read: Congress walks out during Haryana Budget session
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