Congress calls paddy MSP hike a joke

The party highlights farmer suicides; opposes NDA's 'anti-farmer' land acquisition bill

The Congress has described the Rs 50 hike in the minimum support price of paddy announced by the National Democratic Alliance government as a “cruel joke” on farmers.

The party is highlighting farmer suicides and opposing the NDA’s “anti-farmer” land acquisition bill. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, at the forefront of these issues, on Thursday travelled to Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab to visit the family of Sardar Surjit Singh who committed suicide over mounting debt.

The party’s official Twitter handle said, “Recent MSP hike by government a cruel joke on farmers. This anti-farmer attitude needs to end.” Party spokesperson RPN Singh said, “A Rs 50 hike in MSP of paddy as compared to the election promise of 50 per cent of cost. Is the government blind to the reality of the farmer crisis?”

The Narendra Modi government has been under attack for turning a blind eye to farmer distress over crop failure due to freak weather. The Congress has repeatedly questioned the NDA on its manifesto promise on MSP and a spate of farmer suicides has bolstered its case.

The government has announced a substantial hike in the MSP for pulses, but the Congress is no mood to let go of the paddy issue. “While our farmers are in distress, the government's decision to hike the MSP of important crops by just Rs  50 is akin to mocking them,” said Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

It would also meet regularly to monitor the facilitation process and issue directions to the authorities concerned.