Akali Dal will not allow tinkering with MSP: Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh, July 23 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said the party would not allow tinkering with the Minimum Support Price (MSP) or assured marketing of wheat and paddy, even as he exposed the state Congress government by releasing a copy of the party's 2017 Assembly election manifesto which clearly states the party will amend the state's Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act to allow private 'mandis'.

The SAD chief also took on the Congress for failing maize farmers besides demanding a CBI inquiry into purchase of agricultural machinery from private companies at inflated rates.

Addressing a virtual conference, Sukhbir Badal said despite promising in the party election manifesto that it would amend the APMC Act, the Congress was now playing politics on this issue by misleading farmers that the MSP and assured marketing system would end.

"This is furthest from the truth. The SAD is a party of farmers. We understand the problems of farmers and have always fought for their rights. Let me assure our brave farmers that the SAD will not stand for any discrimination against them. We will not allow anyone to tinker with the MSP and assured marketing policy now or anytime in the future also."

Badal also announced that he would take up the issue in Parliament and take an assurance from the Centre that the MSP and assured marketing of wheat and paddy would not be tinkered with in any manner whatsoever.

"I am also ready to accompany farmer organizations and seek whatever clarifications they need from the Union agriculture minister."

The SAD chief held Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directly responsible for the plight of the maize farmers of the state.

He said that against an MSP of Rs 1,825 per quintal, maize was selling at Rs 600 to Rs 800 per quintal in the Doaba region.

( With inputs from IANS )