The Hindu : New Delhi News : Raise MSP for paddy, BJP tells PM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Raise MSP for paddy, BJP tells PM

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for an “early” and “favourable” decision on raising the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy. It sought Rs. 1,000 a quintal for paddy on a par with that of wheat.

A high-level BJP delegation, including party president Rajnath Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani, at a meeting with the Prime Minister on the Karnataka issue, raised this issue and submitted a memorandum.

The BJP said the paddy farmers were in distress; costs of inputs had gone up; and failure to give a higher MSP would lead to the farmers switching to other crops and a fall in rice production.

BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu pointed out that while the government was responsible for ensuring that prices did not rise for the vulnerable sections in society, farmers should not be denied the remunerative price. The party reminded the Prime Minister that paddy growers in 11 States were demanding a higher MSP.

According to the BJP, the Prime Minister assured the delegation that the MSP for wheat for the ensuing season was under the government’s consideration and it would keep in mind the issue of MSP for paddy too.

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