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Journalism of Courage
The MLA from Kaithal and president of All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress, Shamsher Surjewala, today demanded Rs 1,000 as MSP for rice. Addressing a press conference here today, Surjewala said the Rs 50 bonus declared by the Central government was too little and it should have been at least Rs 100.
He said the inclement weather last month had adversely affected farmers8217; produce in north India. 8220;The state governments must adequately compensate for the huge losses suffered by the farmers ranging from 10 to 40 per cent at different places,8221; he said.
Welcoming Haryana government8217;s decision to increase subsidy on pesticides to 35 per ent from the 25 per cent earlier, he said the policy should be continued in future as well.
Surjewala demanded strict action for people producing and selling spurious pesticides, seeds and agriculture equipments. Lamenting the recent ban on PUSA 1121 variety of basmati, he said the UPA government8217;s decision had harmed the interest of the farmers. He also blamed the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for not giving special package to the two major agriculture states 8212; Haryana and Punjab.
