Narendra Modi says MSP to stay; bring a law then, retort farmers

Farmers shout slogans at Singhu border on Monday. PIC/PTI

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said business over hunger will not be allowed and once again demanded a law on minimum support price (MSP) for crops along with the repeal of new contentious agri-marketing laws. The Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson's comments came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the Rajya Sabha speech, assured "MSP was there. MSP is there. MSP will remain in the future".

"There will not be business over hunger in the country. If hunger goes up, price of crops will be decided accordingly. Those wanting business over hunger will be driven out of the country," he told reporters. "The way rates of a flight ticket fluctuate three to four times a day, the price of crops will not be decided the same way," Tikait said.

Asked about the PM's invitation to farmer unions for talks, another farmer leader, Abhimanyu Kohar, said that protesting farmer unions are ready to hold talks with the government, but it should come through formal channels. Sukhdev Singh, Punjab general secretary of BKU Ekta Ugrahan, sought to know why the government is not ensuring a legal guarantee on MSP for crops, adding that it is trying to divert the issue.

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