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Friday, Oct 19, 2007
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War of words on food security

Special Correspondent

BJP to meet Manmohan Singh

BJP hiked MSP of wheat only by Rs. 50 in five years
UPA raised it by Rs. 350 in three years, says Pawar

NEW DELHI: A war of words has broken out between Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and the Bharatiya Janata Party on issues related to food security, wheat import and the minimum support price for paddy.

While the BJP, at a meeting of its general secretaries here on Wednesday, decided to take to the streets to demand a higher MSP for paddy on a par with the Rs.1,000 a quintal MSP for wheat, Mr. Pawar attacked the food-related policies of the National Democratic Alliance regime and blamed the Opposition-ruled States for contributing very little to the wheat procurement scheme.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar, who has been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the wheat imports at high prices, on Thursday said a party delegation would soon meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demand a fair price for paddy growers.

The party warned that if this was not done in time — before the sowing season — there would be a shortfall in paddy production with farmers opting for wheat. Also, it was difficult to import rice from the international market. When Mr. Javadekar was repeatedly asked what the MSP for wheat and paddy were during the NDA regime in 2003-04, he said he could not remember the figures.

In Mumbai, Mr. Pawar reportedly pointed out that during its tenure from 1999 to 2004 the NDA hiked the MSP of wheat only by Rs. 50; the United Progressive Alliance raised it by Rs. 350 in three years. The BJP said that in 12 States, paddy was the major crop. Although it required more water than wheat, 80 per cent of the paddy crop was entirely dependant on rain.

If the government failed to revise the MSP for paddy, the party would carry out agitations in different parts of the country.

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