"Anti-farmer conspiracy of BJP": Congress' Surjewala on Haryana Govt's order on stubble burning

New Delhi [India], October 18 (ANI): Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday called out the Bhartiya Janata party for issuing an order regarding the farmers burning stubble and even "denying a Minimum support price for them".

To stop the farmers from burning the stubble, the state government of Haryana in an official order stated that as per the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), FIR should be registered against all farmers who burn or have burnt paddy crop residue during the current season from 15 September 2024.

"A red entry should be made in the Meri Fasal Mera Bayora (MFMB) record of farmers who are found involved in paddy crop residue burning which will restrict the farmers to sell their crops in the mandis through e-Kharid portal during the next two seasons," as per a notice by the Haryana Government.

Reacting to this, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala said that this is a direct anti-farmer conspiracy of the BJP government against the farmers.

"On the very first day of the formation of the Haryana government, the BJP government issued an order to abolish the MSP of farmers. On one hand, an FIR will be registered against the farmer for burning stubble and on the other hand, the farmers' crop will not be purchased at MSP for 2 years. This is a direct anti-farmer conspiracy of the BJP government led by Nayab Singh Saini because farmers did not vote for the BJP in Haryana...Is this not a direct conspiracy to abolish MSP through the backdoor?" Surjewala said.
"If farmers do not burn stubble, what is the alternative? Will Nayab Singh Saini tell how many farmers of Haryana have been provided a Happy Seeder Machine? Even after giving a 50 per cent subsidy, the cost of Happy seeder Machine to the farmer is up to Rs 75 thousand, where will the poor and small farmers get this money from?" he asked.

Demanding answers from the Haryana government, Surjewala warned Saini of a "nationwide movement" if the state government does not take any action keeping the farmers' profit in mind.

"Does Nayab Singh Saini know that both the farmers and the Punjab Agricultural University are saying that the Happy Seeder Machine reduces the productivity of farming?...Has the government conducted any research?...(Haryana government should answer these questions and immediately withdraw this Tughlaqi decree. Otherwise be ready for a nationwide movement ", Surjewala said.

The Haryana Chief Minister heaped praise for the farmers of his state for following the orders of the government and not getting involved in burning the stubble.

"The farmers of Haryana are aware and I congratulate them because they were also praised by the Supreme Court. If a farmer burns stubble, then we will make him understand. We are also providing instruments at subsidy... Our farmers are very aware and they will not do anything like this," Saini said. (ANI)