Oppn hits out at govt on land bill, farmers' plight

Opposition including JD-U and CPI-M today attacked the government in Rajya Sabha for being "insensitive" towards farmers' problems and insisted on provision of timely relief and higher minimum support price as promised in the BJP's election manifesto.
JD-U demanded a separate budget on agriculture and complete overhaul of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) that recommends to the government on farm pricing, while the CPI-M pitched for timely relief to farmers whose crops have been affected due to recent unseasonal rains and revisiting of agri-policies to make farming a profitable profession.
Congress demanded waiver of crop loans while BJP ally Shiv Sena wanted compensation to those farmers who are "on the verge of committing suicide" in Maharasthra.

Continuing the debate on agrarian crisis in the Upper House, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said: "First, save our farmers. I urge upon the government to be sensitive towards farmers. What are you going to do on the issue of MSP, land bill and .... What is your solution?"
"Farmers have no option but to commit suicide. If you are insensitive, you will see bad times. ...How are we going to address this issue? Neither the economy nor the country can be saved if we don't address this issue," he said, dubbing the government's policies as 'anti-farmers' and 'anti-poor'.
As per the National Crime Bureau, one peasant committed suicide every 36 minutes and media reports state that 40 farmers have killed themselves in one month, he said.

The CPI-M member said the need of the hour was "timely intervention" to stop farmers suicide, announcement of higher MSP, revisit of agricularal policies and a plan to boost investment in farm sector.
"We want you to fulfill the promise you made in the election manifesto. You promised of fixing MSP with 50 per cent profit margin over cost of production. Why are you not implementing it," he asked.
Way back in 2012, former Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar too had pitched for hike in MSP with 50 per cent profit margin. The M S Swaminathan committee had also recommended the same. Nothing has been implemented, Yechury said.