Hike MSP, offer interest-free loan to farmers: BJP

New Delhi, Aug 20 (UNI) The BJP today demanded in the Lok Sabha a hike in the minimum support price (MSP), interest-free loan and other help for flood-hit farmers, lakhs of whom have gathered at the Ramlila Grounds here to hold a rally.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the House would have a full-fledged discussion at a later date on agriculture.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Mr Satyanarayan Jatia (BJP) said farmers from all over the country had come to the capital to draw the attention of the Centre to their problems.

Mr Jatia sought a review of the policies relating to agriculture.

His party colleague, Mr Santosh Gangwar, said the Centre was oblivious to the fact that hundreds of farmers had committed suicide in several states.

While the government was importing wheat at a price of Rs 1,400 a quintal, the MSP was Rs 800-900. Sugarcane growers who defaulted in the repayment of loan were arrested and the government was not coming forward to help them.

The Centre had identified only 31 districts across the country for helping farmers, but there were several other places with similar problems, he said.

UNI