BJP fooling people by claiming record hike in paddy MSP: Stalin

Terming it as an initiative taken with the 2019 general elections in mind, the Leader of Opposition also accused the saffron party of ignoring farmers’ woes in the first four years of its rule and taking them for granted.

“The BJP is claiming that it has fulfilled its poll promise by increasing MSP for paddy by Rs 200 per quintal. But the hikes in the last four years suggest it was eyewash. In 2014-15 the hike was just Rs 50, in 2015-16 again Rs 50, 2016-17 Rs 60 and Rs 80 in 2017-18,” he said in a statement.

Now when the BJP is to face general elections within a year, it was making misleading claims, he said.

Had the party taken such an initiative soon after assuming power in 2014, farmers would have received better prices for their produce. Besides, farmers’ suicides could have been avoided, he said. “Similarly, had they waived farm loans, there would have been significant development in the lives of farmers,” he added.

The Centre on July 4 hiked the MSP for paddy by a record Rs 200 per quintal that would cost the exchequer over Rs 15,000 crore.