Launching the BJP’s poll campaign ahead of Haryana Assembly elections, CM Nayab Singh Saini Sunday said the state government would procure all 23 crops at MSP announced by the Centre and announced the waiving of Rs 133 crore in outstanding canal water irrigation charges. Saini said, “I am happy to state that in the past 10 years, the state government purchased 14 crops at MSP. All crops in Haryana will now be bought at MSP by our government.” “The waiving off the outstanding amount of Rs 133.5 crore from the previous abiana (irrigation water cess) and discontinuing the water cess for the future will provide a relief to the farmers of nearly `54 crore annually,” the chief minister said. The chief minister further announced the payment of pending compensation of Rs 137 crore within a week to farmers who suffered crop damage because of natural calamity in Rohtak, Nuh, Fatehabad and Sirsa before 2023 by their Deputy Commissioners within a week. The CM made announcements at the party’s 'Vijay Shankhnad' rally in Kurukshetra's Thanesar. Saini said such rallies would be held in all Assembly constituencies. The decision of the Haryana government is likely to put pressure on other states, especially Punjab, to announce similar measures for the farmers. Haryana finance minister JP Dalal, who was earlier holding the agriculture portfolio, told The Indian Express: “We will procure all the crops, be it groundnut or methi (fenugreek), on the MSP announced by the Centre. Thus far, the state government has been procuring 14 crops at the MSP and making payments directly into the bank accounts of the farmers.” Welcoming the announcement, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) spokesperson Rakesh Bains said, “The farmers have been struggling for the same for long. However, we urge the government to introduce a law to guarantee the purchase of all crops on the MSP.” Prominent farmer leader in Haryana and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) president Gurnam Singh Chaduni said the BJP government made these announcements “fearing the loss of farmers’ votes. The BJP government fears farmers’ entry into politics. This is just the beginning.” Chaduni has announced that his Sanyukt Sangharsh Party would contest the Assembly polls and he will contest from Pehowa in Kurukshetra. Speaking at the rally, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised Saini for accelerating progress in Haryana.
