Centre wants to end MSP via ‘planned conspiracy’: Surjewala

Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Randeep Singh Surjewala today alleged that the Centre wanted to end MSP through backdoor and Punjab and Haryana farmers were being punished under a ‘planned conspiracy’ for opposing the now-repealed farm laws.

Addressing a press conference here, Surjewala claimed that Punjab and Haryana farmers were being punished under a ‘planned conspiracy’ and a design for opposing the three farm laws.

He alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre, under a planned conspiracy, wanted to end MSP through backdoor.

Surjewala said less paddy procurement has taken place till today over the corresponding period of last year in Punjab and Haryana.

"There are six parts of the conspiracy. The principal part of the conspiracy is to finish MSP through backdoor, ultimately abolish the MSP, abolish the grain markets on the pattern of Bihar, gradually abolish crop purchase at MSP by cutting it down. Today, they have cut down the purchase by half, then they will cut down by more. In next 2-4 years, they will make MSP redundant, make registration for farmers on designated portal redundant," he alleged.

"Go to Dhand or Pundri grain market in Haryana’s Kaithal district. The conspiracy has been unleashed, the grain market has been shut down there," Surjewala alleged.

There are nearly 9,000 rice mills in Punjab and Haryana, most of which do milling of grain procured for PDS and other schemes, he said.

The government creates an obstruction in the business of rice millers so that the purchase and milling of the paddy of the farmers purchased at MSP is in less quantity, he said.

"In the past five years, the Modi government has made a huge cut of Rs 3,30,000 crore in subsidy, that is fertiliser, food, and fuel subsidy. In the year 2020-21, this subsidy was 3.8 per cent of the GDP at Rs 7,58,165 crore, and in year 2024-25, this subsidy was reduced to 1.3 per cent of GDP, making it Rs 4,28,423 crore. Naturally, agriculture and farmers are suffering as a result of this," he said.