MODI GOVERNMENT’S DENIAL OF MSP FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AS PER SWAMINATHAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS IS SHATTERING BLOW TO PEASANTRY : CPI ( M )
The Punjab State Committee Of CPI(M) strongly condemned the back tracking of Modi government from fixing Minimum Support Price of Agricultural produce as the formula of cost of production plus 50 % more, recommended by Swaminathan Commission . It may be recalled that the BJP in its election manifesto for 16th Lok sabha elections promised to ensure MSP to the peasants as per recommendations of the Swaminathan commission.
Comrade Charan Singh Virdi, Secretary, CPI(M), Punjab through a statement issued here today made the above criticism while commenting on the affidavit submitted by Modi government to Supreme Court on Friday in which it has stated it would not be able to enhance the MSP for agricultural produce to be 50% more than the input cost. It is well known that Swaminathan Commission made this recommendation to save the peasantry from mounting debtedness and committing of suicides while unable to repay heavy debts of local money lenders.
He further said that when read with the moves of Modi government to dismantle FCI and MSP system as such, this affidavit of Modi government about MSP gives a cruel blow to the peasantry of Punjab in particular. The Punjab peasantry who is producing wheat and rice for the central Food Pool to the tune of 50% will get totally ruined if it thrown on the mercy of sharks of free market, who will use double scissor to loot the peasantry by raising price of inputs and lowering the prices of peasants produce.
CPI(M) called upon the peasantry to put up mass resistance against the cruel steps of the Modi government who is implementing its corporate agricultural policy aggressively and with impunity.