Senior farmer leaders in Haryana have called for a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) following a recent announcement by Chief Minister Nayab Saini, which aims to extend MSP coverage to all 24 crops in the state. The announcement was made during a rally in Kurukshetra, signaling the start of the BJP’s campaign for the upcoming assembly elections.
The move, described by the Chief Minister as a major step towards supporting farmers, has been met with skepticism by prominent farmer unions. Leaders such as Gurnam Singh Charuni and Rattan Mann argue that the announcement, while significant, does not address the core issues faced by farmers without a formal legal guarantee.
Rattan Mann, state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait), criticized the announcement as insufficient. He questioned why, despite the existing MSP for 14 crops, the government needed to introduce the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana. Mann labeled the announcement as a “pre-poll drama” designed to garner votes and called for a legally binding MSP law at both the state and central levels. “If the government truly supports farmers, it should pass a legal guarantee law for MSP and push for similar legislation at the Centre,” Mann stated.
Similarly, Gurnam Singh Charuni, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) faction, viewed the announcement as a reactive measure in response to the farmers’ political mobilization. Charuni highlighted the long-standing efforts of farmer activists to secure MSP for all crops, including legal battles and protests dating back to 2008. “This announcement is a result of our relentless struggle and the government’s concern over our increasing political influence,” Charuni said. He also announced his candidacy for the Pehowa assembly seat under his own Sanyukt Sangharsh Party.
The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have been staging protests at Shambhu border since February, demanding a legally guaranteed MSP. Their planned march to the national capital to seek a federal MSP law was hindered by authorities, leading to violent clashes that resulted in the death of a young farmer and injuries to several others.
The farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee reflects ongoing tensions between agricultural communities and the government, emphasizing the need for concrete legislative measures to ensure fair crop pricing and genuine support for the farming sector.
Sources By Agencies