No compromise on paddy, wheat MSP: Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh, June 13 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal said, here on Saturday, his party would never compromise on the assured procurement of paddy and wheat by the government agencies at the minimum support price (MSP) as it was a question of life and death for farmers.

The former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said, “The SAD is in the government at the Centre to ensure that interests of Punjabis in general, and farmers and the poor are safeguarded.”

Badal said he saw no threat to the present MSP regime at this stage. “But if at any stage, the MSP and the assured procurement are tinkered with, the SAD will not remain a mute witness and will fight till the injustice is vacated,” he said.

The SAD was conscious of its historic role as the voice and the conscience of the people in every sphere, he said and added, not just the Punjabis but the whole country looked at the party for lead, guidance and inspiration in the realisation of regional aspirations.

He said the SAD was committed to ensure that the MSP regime with assured official procurement of farm produce was neither disturbed nor diluted. “We will never be a party to any decision that seeks to change or dilute this arrangement,” he said.

He and his party were ready for everything in case farmers’ interests came under threat from any adverse change in the present arrangement of official purchase, he said and added, the procurement system needed to be strengthened and refined and its scope widened.

It’s necessary to diversify the range of the MSP regime to diversify agriculture, a key requirement for a boost to India’s rural economy, the Akali leader said.

–IANS

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