Andhra Pradesh

Paddy MSP dominates Assembly proceedings

HYDERABAD: Opposition parties sought to corner the Government in both the Houses of the Legislature on Tuesday on the demand for enhancing the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, forcing adjournment of the Council without transacting any business and resulting in abrupt conclusion of the Assembly.

As soon as the Council met, Chairman A.Chakrapani announced that he was disallowing the adjournment notices tabled by TDP and others. Insisting that the House suspend the listed business and take up the issue of fixing MSP for paddy on a par with wheat, TDP members stormed the podium forcing the Chair to initially adjourn for half-an-hour and later for the day.

Acrimonious exchanges were witnessed as Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Transport Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and Roads and Buildings Minister T. Jeevan Reddy took swipes at the leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu. TDP members repeatedly rushed to the podium protesting against Mr. Lakshminarayana’s remarks and argued with Deputy Speaker G. Kuthuhalamma.

Initiating the debate earlier, Mr. Naidu charged the Centre and the State Government with neglecting the welfare of farmers and criticised the State for recommending an MSP of Rs.660 for a quintal of paddy, which he claimed was taken as a pretext by the Centre in fixing Rs.695.

Accusing the Centre of discriminating against paddy farmers, he said that during the past three years, the MSP for wheat was increased by 50 per cent while that of paddy went up by 22 per cent. He said the costs for inputs and labour were higher for paddy than wheat and faulted the Centre for unilaterally fixing the MSP. Intervening, Dr. Reddy said the MSP for wheat and paddy was almost similar between 1982 and 1996.

Agriculture Minister, N. Raghuveera Reddy admitted that the hike in MSP over the years had not been economical enough.

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