MSP will be hiked regularly, says Rajnath Singh amid farmer protests

Amid farmers’ protest against contentious farm laws, Defence Minister on Thursday reassured that the Minimum Support Price will not only stay, but will also be regularly increased in the coming years. “I want to assure farmers that the MSP will stay and rather it will be continuously raised in coming years,” he said.

He also criticised the Congress for burning a tractor near India Gate to protest the laws. “As a weapon is sacred to soldiers, so is a tractor for farmers and by burning them, they are insulting our farmers,” the minister said.

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Rajnath Singh also assured that Modi government will not do anything that is not in the interest of farmers. “I appeal to all farmers’ organisations that if they have any issue please come and talk with us. I have already started talking to farmers organisations to clear misgivings and misconceptions,” he said.

Earlier, the Centre increased the minimum support prices for six rabi crops, sending a strong message to the farmers on the continuation of MSP-based procurement system.

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Farmer groups across the country are staging protests demanding a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price to the farmers, waiving of all taxes imposed under the Agricultural Produce Market Committee on farmers and waiving off farmers’ loans worth Rs 7 lakh crore.

The Centre has asserted the law will be beneficial for farmers and increase their income.