Agriculture Minister accuses Congress of misleading farmers on MSP –

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accused Congress of misleading farmers regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Hitting out at the party, the senior BJP leader claimed that during the Congress rule, the MSP for all crops was only nominally higher than the input costs, while the BJP government has implemented a historic rise in the MSP. He asserted that the government is strengthening the entire system of remuneration for farmers, including MSP. Mr Chouhan said that the government has disbursed 23 lakh crore rupees under the MSP to farmers compared to 7 lakh crore rupees allocated by the Congress-led UPA government in its 10-year tenure. He highlighted that the BJP-led Centre has done historic work for farmers on every front, be it the MSP or boosting their income or introducing new technology and diversity in farming. The prices of lentils, oil seeds and cotton have grown manifold under the Modi government. He alleged that, having lost touch with the people, the Congress is now reduced to rootless leaders making baseless allegations.