NEW DELHI: A day after the Central Government set up a committee on Minimum Support Price (MSP), newly elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chaddha moved the notice of suspension of business to discuss the MSP. The AAP has termed it as “anti-government” and “violates principles of federalism”.
The farmers’ agitation which concluded last year had one of the main demands was the formation of a Committee on MSP. The majority of farmers’ unions were from Punjab but there was no representative of Punjab in the 26-member committee constituted by the central Government.
“Committee constituted by Modi Govt is anti-farmer and violates the principles of federalism through non-representation of states, especially Punjab,” AAP said in its statement.
AAP MP Chaddha said, “Central Government’s Committee to make MSP more effective is the latest example of BJP’s cynical and shortsighted bungling on agriculture, as the disastrous dispensation learns no lessons. By deliberately excluding Punjab, the Central Government has insulted our people.”
He further said, “Punjab as the birth-place of the Green Revolution and the food bowl of India, has not been allowed to have governmental representation, while bureaucrats from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha have all been given spots in this 26-member committee.”
He said continuing the terrible legacy of the farm laws that forced Punjab’s farmers to hit the streets and sacrifice lives, the BJP chose Guni Prakash who supported BJP CM Khattar’s call for violence against agitating farmers, Gunwant Patil who was endorsing how the farm laws are revolutionary while Punjab’s farmers tolerated biting cold and continued their protest and Sayyed Pasha Patel, a BJP politician from Latur. However, Punjab has been kept outside the door.
“Clear evidence that the BJP cannot lead India in a unified manner, especially on issues important to its farmers. It’s clear as day why making MSP ‘effective’ is on the table, but a legal guarantee for minimum MSP is not. I have filed a suspension notice in the Rajya Sabha,” he added.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh also served a Zero Hour notice to discuss the issue of the Agnipath scheme of the Central government in Rajya Sabha. He also served a Special Mention notice over the issue of medical students who have come from Ukraine but are still not clear about their future. Singh also moved a Suspension of Business notice under section 267 to discuss the issue of Delhi CM not getting clearance to go to Singapore for attending World Cities Summit.