AP: BJP slams UPA for not hiking MSP for paddy

Hyderabad, Nov 2: The BJP today lashed out at the UPA Government for allegedly denying Rs 1000 per quintal as Minimum Support Price for paddy on the pretext that any hike would lead to price rise.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP National Secretary N Indirasena Reddy termed as ''illogicial'' the Manmohan Singh Government's decision to hike the MSP for wheat to Rs 1000 but not for paddy.

The Centre should hike the MSP for paddy before harvested paddy arrived in the market as the nation's food security was at stake, he said, adding that paddy growers would be forced to switch over to cash crops, forcing the government to spend more on import of food grain.

Stating that the Congress government in the state had ''totally failed'' to protect the interest of paddy growers, he wanted to know whether Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was ready to announce additional bonus for paddy as done by Kerala and Punjab over and above the MSP fixed by the Centre.

UNI