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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The meeting focused on the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, a long-standing issue that has been at the heart of ongoing farmer protests.
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met with a delegation of farmer leaders from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) on Wednesday, the day after the Union Budget 2024-25 was announced.
The meeting focused on the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, a long-standing issue that has been at the heart of ongoing farmer protests.
In a statement after the meeting, Gandhi emphasised the Congress party’s commitment to the MSP guarantee, which was included in their manifesto. He pledged to work with other leaders of the INDIA alliance to put pressure on the government to fulfil this demand.
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MSP की कानूनी गारंटी किसानों का हक़ है।
INDIA ये हक़ उनको दिला कर रहेगा। pic.twitter.com/q2IQU57nJF
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 24, 2024
“In our manifesto, we had mentioned MSP with a legal guarantee. We have done the assessment, and it can be implemented. We had a meeting right now where were decided that we will talk to other leaders of the INDIA alliance and put pressure on the government to give legal guarantees on MSP to the farmers of the country,” Gandhi said after the meeting.
The meeting, initially marred by confusion as farmer leaders were reportedly denied entry into the Parliament complex, was later held at Gandhi’s office.
Speaking inside Parliament, Gandhi noted, “We had invited them (farmer leaders) here to meet us. But they are not allowing them here (in Parliament). because they are farmers…,” He further expressed his frustration, alleging that the authorities were preventing the farmers from entering, saying, “…This is the issue…What should we do?… It could be a technical issue also.”
Senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Deepender Singh Hooda, and several MPs attended the meeting.
FLASH: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that farmers who wanted to meet with him were not allowed into his office. He suggested that the reason for this should be asked to the Prime Minister. #Farmers #RahulGandhi #Parliament #IndiaPolitics pic.twitter.com/0ajKBMjgmF
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 24, 2024
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Farmers are demanding the MSP calculation be based on the Swaminathan Commission’s C2+50 formula, which includes the cost of capital and land rent. Currently, the government uses the A2+FL+50 per cent method, which farmers argue is insufficient. They also seek legal backing for the MSP, ensuring the government is obliged to purchase crops at this price.
The farmers’ movement, which gained momentum with large-scale protests in 2020-21 against three farm laws, continues to advocate for their demands, including the legal guarantee of MSP and loan waivers. As part of their ongoing efforts, farmer unions have planned a nationwide tractor rally on August 15, Independence Day, and further protests in the coming months.
