‘We Need Price, Not Subsidy’
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President, Jitendra Patwari, led a dramatic demonstration today, marching with hundreds of farmers to the Bhopal residence of Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to highlight pending demands for fair crop prices.
Patwari and farmers symbolically carried sacks of grain on their shoulders, demanding that the government deliver ‘Bhav’ (price), not just the ‘Bhavantar’ (price difference subsidy). The protest was aimed at securing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantees made by the ruling party.
Striking at Government Failures
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Patwari fiercely criticised the state and central governments, pointing to unfulfilled promises, including an MSP of Rs 3,100 for paddy, Rs 2,700 for wheat, and Rs 6,000 for soybeans.
“Farmers have not received Rs 6,000 for soybeans; they are merely getting a token Bhavantar. When Mr. Chouhan was Chief Minister, the 2017 Bhavantar scheme failed to deliver a single rupee,” Patwari asserted. He highlighted the worsening crisis, noting that eight farmers had recently committed suicide across the state due to debt and poor returns, demanding accountability from the government.
Key Demands Raised
Flanked by senior Congress leaders, Patwari called for immediate action, accusing the double-engine government of prioritizing wasteful expenditure over farmer welfare. He challenged Union Minister Chouhan to address the crisis now, or risk his ‘profitability of agriculture’ promises being exposed.
The Congress demanded:
- Effective implementation of insurance, survey, and compensation schemes.
- Immediate financial assistance of Rs 20,000 per bigha to farmers.
- Ensuring the promised MSPs (Rs 6,000 for soybean, Rs 2,700 for wheat, and Rs 3,100 for paddy).
- Direct procurement of onions at Rs 14–15 per kg instead of a subsidy.
Patwari concluded with a firm vow: “We need price, not subsidy! This agitation will continue until the government wakes up.”
