Shivraj Singh Chouhan Accuses UPA Govt Of Rejecting Swaminathan Suggestion On MSP, Oppn Hits Back

Amidst an ongoing session at the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the members of the House that the government is still awaiting a report by a committee in regard to the minimum support prices (MSP) for farm produce. He further said that once the government receives the views on the matter, they will take a call.

Chouhan, who is also the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh was giving a response to a question asked by Samajwadi Party’s  Ramji Lal Suman on whether the Centre will bring a law to provide a legal guarantee to MSPs.

Earlier, the MSP committee was set up by the government after a year-long agitation by farmers in 2020-21. The farmers demanded a law to make MSPs fixed.

Chouhan, while speaking at the Upper House said, “The committee was formed with specific objectives. It is to ensure MSP for farmers…also, to give more autonomy to the commission for agricultural costs and prices and to improve marketing for higher price realisation.”

Following his response, the Opposition protested against Chouhan, accusing him of dodging a “straightforward” question. However, the agriculture minister retorted while pointing out that the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led government had rejected the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation on MSPs offering 50% returns over costs of cultivation.

During the session, he also cited a cabinet note from and said that the Congress-led government had refused to implement the MSP suggestion.

“On the Swaminathan report’s recommendation that MSP should give 50% returns over costs, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government clearly stated, and I’m quoting Cabinet notes, that implementing this suggestion can create market distortions,” he said.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised his dissent on Chouhan’s statements at the Rajya Sabha. Taking to his official, X account, Ramesh said that the minister ‘ went round and round in order to avoid answering the question’.

He said, “Today in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of Agriculture was asked a direct and straightforward question on whether the Government of India will introduce a legal guarantee for MSP as being demanded by farmer organisations”.

“For almost 30 minutes, he stonewalled and went round and round in order to avoid answering the question. Legal guarantee for MSP for rice, wheat, and other agri-produce was the issue. All that the Minister accomplished was delivering a jalebi,” the Congress leader added.