Punjab CM claims Centre has agreed to hike paddy MSP

Baba Bakala, Amritsar, Aug 9 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today claimed that the Centre had agreed in principle to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy.

While addressing a public rally, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar would soon announce adequate hike in the MSP of paddy.

He ridiculed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Preisdent and former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for unnecessarily politicising the issue of MSP. ''Staging of dharna outside Parliament by the SAD was nothing but a drama'', he added.

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