By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of betraying the interests of farmers, alleging that the state government’s latest decisions are pushing cultivators into deep economic distress.
Kamal Nath: “BJP Government driving farmers towards financial ruin”
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath stated that the BJP government has initiated a process that will plunge millions of farmers into crisis.
He recalled that the BJP had promised higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for wheat and paddy during the 2023 Assembly elections, yet has now withdrawn from procurement at those rates.
“The Chief Minister has cited a ₹77,000 crore debt on the State Civil Supplies Corporation as an excuse and has requested the Centre to procure directly through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). This will severely harm farmers,” Nath said.
He warned that under the FCI’s complex procedures, many farmers’ crops would be rejected, forcing them to sell their produce at throwaway prices.
Nath further alleged that the BJP government has repeatedly taken anti-farmer decisions citing the shortage of fertilisers and seeds, irregularities in the procurement of moong, and the discontinuation of the farm loan waiver scheme initiated by the previous Congress government.
“The BJP wants farmers to become destitute so that their land can be taken away. Its mentality is more anti-farmer than that of the British Raj. I demand that the current MSP procurement system remain unchanged,” Nath asserted.
Jeetu Patwari: “A direct betrayal of farmers”
State Congress President Jeetu Patwari said that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s letter to the Central Government confirms the state’s intention to back away from wheat and paddy procurement.
“The government’s claim that the FCI will now handle procurement is nothing but a ploy to deceive farmers. Under the pretext of quality standards, lakhs of quintals of wheat will be rejected, forcing farmers to sell at distress prices,” Patwari said.
He strongly opposed the move, demanding that “the BJP government immediately withdraw this exploitative policy which will lead to the economic ruin of farmers.”
Umang Singhar: ‘Government has broken promises and cheated farmers’
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar described the government’s withdrawal from procurement as a direct injustice to farmers.
“The government says it has no funds, yet spends crores on grand events. When it comes to farmers, it remembers its debts,” Singhar remarked.
He recalled the BJP’s election promises of purchasing wheat at Rs 2,700 per quintal and paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal. “Now, when it is time to buy the crops, the government shifts responsibility to the Centre — this is sheer cowardice,” he added.
Singhar urged the Chief Minister to start procurement immediately and address the suffering of farmers.
Congress issues warning of statewide agitation
The Congress party warned that if the government does not reconsider its decision on the procurement process, it will launch a massive agitation across Madhya Pradesh.
