BJP govt far behind Cong in MSP increase, says Hooda
Chandigarh, September 2
Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that the BJP government was nowhere near the Congress in terms of increasing the minimum support price (MSP) and giving it to farmers.
He said, “The government figures themselves are a proof of the fact that the MSP was increased far more times during the Congress rule. The BJP only put a brake on the pace of the MSP increase and pushed farmers into losses. This is the reason why the farmers of the entire country, including Haryana, are agitating today.”
Hooda, while listening to the demands and problems of the farmers at his residence, presented the MSP figures and said when the Congress came to power in 2004-05, the rate of wheat was only Rs 640 per quintal. “The Congress more than doubled the MSP on wheat and raised it to Rs 1,450 per quintal, an increase of 126.5 per cent. But during the BJP’s rule till date, the rate of wheat has increased by only 51.7 per cent, which is less than half as compared to that during the Congress rule,” he added.
Hooda said, “Similarly, in paddy, the Congress increased the MSP by two and a half times from Rs 560 per quintal to Rs 1,360 per quintal, a hike of 143 per cent. “The BJP increased the paddy MSP by only 60 per cent, which is less than half as compared to the hike done by the Congress.”
He added, “The Congress increased the rate of cotton from Rs 1,760 per qunital to Rs 4,050 per quintal, an increase of 130 per cent. The BJP has increased the rate by only 53.7 per cent till date. The Congress increased the rate of millet by 143 per cent while the BJP increased it by only 100 per cent. The Congress increased the MSP of sunflower by 180 per cent while the BJP increased it by only 70.6 per cent.”
About the rates decided by the state government, the price of sugarcane was only Rs 117 per quintal before the Congress formed government in 2005. “The Congress increased the sugarcane price by 165 per cent i.e, more than two and a half times to Rs 310 per quintal. But till date, the BJP has raised the rate only to Rs 386, an increase of mere 24.5 per cent,” he added.
Hooda said that even in the matter of providing the MSP to farmers, the BJP government was far behind the Congress. “The reason for this is that the Congress understands the true meaning and utility of the MSP. Therefore, during our tenure, we made a system that as soon as a crop arrives in the market, the government agencies will immediately start purchasing it,” he added, outlining the policy of the previous Congress government.
