The Congress party promised to fulfil the farmers' key demand of a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops if the INDIA bloc wins upcoming general elections and comes to power.

 

Criticising the Narendra Modi government for stopping the Punjab farmers from marching to New Delhi “using spikes, barbed wires, boulders and walls”, it asked the Prime Minister to directly talk to the protesting farmers.

 

 

However, it's pertinent to note that the roots of the current farmers' protest may trace back to decisions made by the Congress party in 2007. The United Progressive Government led by the Manmohan Singh or one must say Sonia Gandhi had rejected the MS Swaminathan committee's recommendation that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be at least 50 per cent more than the weighted average cost of production.

 

The Congress is now promising the moon to the farmers on MSP if it comes to power in 2024, but the UPA government in 2007 had rejected the MSP formula of the MS Swaminathan Commission, saying it will “distort the market” and be “counter-productive”.The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) headed by Dr Swaminathan had recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be at least 50 per cent more than the weighted average cost of production.

 

 

 

 

However, when the National Policy for Farmers, 2007, was finalised by the then UPA government, this recommendation was not included. The recommendation continues to be the demand of the protesting farmers, who now also want a law guaranteeing MSP.

 

“The National Commission on Farmers under the Chairmanship of Prof. MS Swaminathan has recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be at least 50 per cent more than the weighted average cost of production. This recommendation, however, has not been accepted by the government because MSP is recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) based on objective criteria and considering variety of relevant factors. Hence, prescribing an increase of at least 50 per cent on cost may distort the market. A mechanical linkage between MSP and cost of production may be counter-productive in some cases,” then minister of state for agriculture KV Thomas told Parliament in 2010 in a written answer.

 

The recent promises and statements made by the Congress party regarding farmers' welfare and Minimum Support Price (MSP) raise questions about their sincerity and consistency in addressing agricultural issues.Despite these promises, it's important to note that no Congress-governed state has yet implemented the Swaminathan report, despite the party's assertions. The contradictions between Congress' current promises and past actions highlight a potential political strategy aimed at garnering votes rather than genuine concern for farmers' welfare.

.

.