Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urged the AAP government in Punjab to start purchasing farmers' crops at the minimum support price (MSP), just as Haryana is doing. He said that in Haryana, the government ensures all crops are bought at MSP and takes necessary steps to support farmers.
Speaking to reporters before the Haryana Assembly's budget session, Saini also advised the Punjab government to hold discussions with protesting farmers and address their concerns.
His remarks came in response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a group of over 30 farmer organisations, which called for a protest in Chandigarh on March 5. They are demanding that the Punjab government purchase six crops at MSP. However, Punjab Police stopped the farmers from reaching Chandigarh on Wednesday.
Saini, who comes from a farming background, said he understands the struggles of farmers and how hard they work in the fields. He emphasised that Haryana stands by its farmers, even in times of natural calamities. He pointed out that Haryana previously procured 14 crops at MSP but now buys all crops at the guaranteed price.
He had earlier suggested to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that he should talk to farmers and assure them that their crops would be purchased at MSP. Saini questioned why the Punjab government was not doing so and urged it to provide relief to farmers instead of using force against them.
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The SKM has criticised the AAP government for its actions against protesting farmers. Meanwhile, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann accused some farmer groups of organizing protests too frequently, saying it was turning Punjab into a "state of dharnas" and causing economic losses. He made these remarks after talks between the Punjab government and SKM leaders ended without a resolution.
The SKM, which had led the 2020 protests against the now-repealed central farm laws, has several demands. These include rejecting the Centre’s National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, ensuring a legal guarantee for MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission, implementing Punjab’s agricultural policy, and purchasing six crops—including basmati, maize, moong, and potato—at MSP.
They are also seeking laws for debt relief, land ownership rights for tillers, better canal water distribution, payment of pending sugarcane dues, stopping forced land acquisition for Bharatmala projects, and compensation for the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 protests.
Also Read: SKM ends Punjab dharnas, plans fresh protests on March 10
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