The Modi government has betraying India's farmers with the Cabinet Committee's announcement of fresh Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif 2014. Since the nominal increase of Rs.50 in most crops amounts to only 1-2% which is much less than even the inflation rate, AAP believes that in real terms the MSPs for the farmer have been reduced in all crops, that the farmers will be more impoverished this year than last year.
AAP questions Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi what happened to his promise to the farmers committing suicide in Vidarbha in his high profile visit to Yavatmal during the election campaign where he decried the fact that the UPA government has not ensured remunerative prices to cotton farmers. Now, the MSP of cotton has been virtually kept the same (Rs.4050 compared to Rs.4000 last year). AAP asks the Prime Minister whether he expects that the cotton farmers’ distress and suicides will come down in Vidarbha? Will he be answerable to the families of those farmers who might commit suicide this kharif season?
AAP reminds the farming community that the BJP in its manifesto expressly promised “Ensuring a minimum of 50% profits over the cost of production.” Prime Minister Modi in his campaign speeches repeatedly announced, "We will fix the MSP (Minimum Support Price) of crops incorporating 50 per cent profit in farmers cost of production including seed, irrigation, manure, labour." However, this promise has been cynically set aside so soon after the elections. MSP for paddy has been set at Rs.1360- the increase of Rs.50 from Rs.1310 of last year doesn't cover even the inflation rate. In maize and bajra, there has been zero increase in MSP whereas in most crops the increase is just Rs.50.
AAP demands that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs should retract its announcement of MSPs and come up with revised MSP' which provide 50% profit over cost of cultivation. AAP also demands that the government should come out with a system that guarantees minimum incomes to farmers so that it ensures dignified livelihoods to the annadatas of the country who are ensuring our food security and economic security.
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