Punjab Farmers' debt relief equates with a massive MSP hike - 03/03/2008
PUNJAB FARMERS' DEBT RELIEF EQUATES WITH A MASSIVE MSP HIKE AND WILL RESULT IN A RESOUNDING DEFEAT FOR THE AKALI-BJP COLAITION IN THE FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
The estimated Rs.12,000 debt relief for Punjab farmers is a massive gesture that needs to be fully understood and appreciated.
Mr Badal has called this announcement "inadequate" but we shall soon find out whether the Punjab Finance Minister can even allocate 10% of the union amount for the aid of Punjab farmers.
It is actually equal to an MSP increment of about Rs.1400/kwt on the approximately 8.5 million tonnes of wheat procured in Punjab by the various agencies.
Contrast this with what Mr Badal managed to extract from the NDA government.
In 5 years the last Akali government in Punjab secured in aggregate wheat MSP increments of Rs.145/kwt and paddy increments of Rs.150/kwt.
This equates to average annual MSP increments per quantil over the 5 years of the last Akali government of Rs.29 for wheat and Rs.30 for paddy.
Mr Badal failed to extract from the NDA government:
1. adequate MSP increments
2. any debt relief for Punjab farmers
3. any action to counter the record number of suicide during the last NDA government.
The reality is that the just announced debt relief is far bigger than expected. The SAD-BJP government is actually lost for words.
After the artificial euphoria of its paid-for gathering at Delhi, the SAD-BJP coalition simply does not know how to react.
Dogmatic criticism of union policy for farmers will win Mr Badal no votes.
An election in Punjab today would provide Congress with a decisive majority.
With Parliamentary elections just around the corner, the Akalis are quiivering at the kness because they fear, and now expect, a resounding defeat.
Jassi Khangura MLA
Halqa Qila Raipur
Chandigarh
3 March 2008
