AAP’s state-wide protest against meagre hike in paddy MSP on July 17

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of Aam Admi Party (AAP) has decided to observe a state-wide protest on July 17 to put pressure on the Centre to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy.
“We are opposing the Centre’s decision to increase MSP of paddy by only Rs 80 for 2017-18 (from Rs 1, 470 a quintal to Rs 1, 550). Farmer unrest and suicide cases are being reported from various parts of the country. The farmers had expected the BJP-led NDA government to keep its poll promise and increase the supporting price of paddy by 50 per cent, above the cost of production. The Centre, however, not only kept the hike ridiculously low at 5 per cent but also barred the state governments from supplementing the deficit through bonus,” party’s state convenor Nishikanta Mohapatra said during a media conference here on Friday.
The party demanded that the Centre increase MSP for paddy to Rs 2,930 a quintal and accept the recommendation of Swaminathan Committee on determining supporting price.
“If the Centre fails to act on these demands, we will launch a nationwide agitation in the interest of the farmers,” Mohapatra added.