AP to seek same MSP for paddy, wheat: CM

Hyderabad, Oct 15 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the government will impress upon the Centre to get Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy on par with wheat.

Addressing a press conference here, he said he had already discussed the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Meanwhile, Dr Reddy denied Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu's charges that 'government was not exerting pressure' on the Centre to fix MSP for paddy on par with wheat. He also ruled out Naidu's charges that the Centre was favouring the northern states.

He said till 1996-97, the MSPs for paddy and wheat were almost the same. Enhancing MSP of wheat to Rs 1,000 was to increase production, he added.

UNI