Congress Vows Legal Guarantee of Minimum Support Price Amid Farmer Protests

The Congress made the announcement on Tuesday, the day farmers were repressed while trying to go to Delhi to support their long-overdue demands, that the minimum support price (MSP) will be a legal guarantee if it returns to power in 2024.

The national outcry over the unsettling images of concrete boulders and barbed wires blocking the farmers' entry into the nation's capital, nails planted on the roads, and tear gas shells fired by BJP governments to disperse the marching crowds forced an early announcement, even though the Congress was planning to include the promise of MSP in its election manifesto.


Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, speaking at a Congress workers' convention in Ambikpur, Chhattisgarh, said that the party's administration will abide by all of the requests made by the farmers, with the exception of a bill that would ensure MSP. They expressed outrage and agony at the "betrayal and repression" of the Narendra Modi administration and declared that the recommendations of the Swaminathan committee will be fully followed.

Later, on X, Congress President Kharge said, "Today is a historic day for farmers." The Swaminathan Commission's recommendations will be put into practice by the Congress. The life of fifteen crore agricultural households would be altered by this. This is the Congress justice regime's first guarantee.

The tweet that Rahul shared said, "The Congress has made a historic pledge." Based on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, we shall enact an MSP legislation. There would be benefits for fifteen crore households.

Speaking at the conference in Ambikapur, Kharge declared: "M.S. Swaminathan will receive the Bharat Ratna from Modi, but his suggestions will not be accepted." How much has Modi helped farmers? Fertilizer and agricultural equipment are now subject to taxes. Using concrete barriers, nails, tear gas shells, and batons, he is attempting to intimidate farmers. Is this the democratic way of handling farmers?"

Kharge continued, recalling the unmet pledges made since 2014: "He said farmers' incomes will be doubled." He guaranteed two crore employment annually and Rs 15 lakh in every account. He is now making more recent promises. He'll guarantee you the stars. He makes up all of his promises and claims. He is the "king of lies," or jhoothon ka sardar. The fact that some people still believe him in spite of his falsehoods infuriates me.

At a news conference, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "History will remember Modi's cruel and barbaric repression of farmers," expressing his unwavering support for the recent farmers' movement. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana are being treated by the BJP administrations as if they are a hostile group attempting to overthrow the government in Delhi. With their concrete boulders, barbed wire, nails, and strong paramilitary force presence, Delhi's borders resemble a war zone. Numerous localities have had their roads excavated. There are now walls made of cement. The internet has been rendered inoperable. Are farmers coming to fight?

Where can farmers go to seek justice if not Delhi, Surjewala questioned, lamenting the undemocratic stance of the Modi administration. Do they need to march to the UN building? Why did the Modi administration not follow through on the promises it made during the last movement? Farmers don't put up with lies and conspiracies a la Shakuni. Calling the farmers to Delhi, the prime minister ought to engage in conversation with them and grant their requests.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.