BATHINDA: Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today demanded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) bring in legislation guaranteeing MSP for all 23 crops in the forthcoming budget session in case the centre did not do so.
Talking to newsmen here after participating in a sports function at the Central University here, Mrs Harsimrat Badal said “the chief minister is on record to have promised to implement the MSP regime for all 23 crops. In case the centre does not do this, Mr Bhagwant Mann should bring in appropriate legislation to make this a reality in Punjab”.
She also requested the farm unions to put pressure on the chief minister to make good on his promise. Also condemning the chief minister for colluding with the Haryana government to stop farmers from marching to Delhi, the Bathinda MP said “if Mr Bhagwant Mann had any care for the farmers he would have faced the drones and rubber bullets first instead of letting farmers fall victim to them”. She said by refusing to take action against the Haryana police officials who attacked farmers in Punjab territory the chief minister had proved that he was only shedding crocodile tears for farmers”. She demanded immediate registration of a criminal case against Haryana police officials responsible for the attack on peaceful farmers.
Mrs Badal also said it was extremely unfortunate that the assurances given in writing to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha by the centre two and a half years back when the Kisan Andolan had been withdrawn had not been implemented till now. “These assurances including making MSP a legal right of farmers should be implemented immediately”. She also called for implementation the Swaminathan Commission report on MSP. “It is laud worthy that Dr Swaminathan has been awarded the Bharat Ratna. However the recommendations of the Commission including 50 per cent profit on the weighted cost of production of food grains should also be implemented”, Mrs Badal added.