First link MSP with price index only then decontrol diesel: Sukhbir Singh Badal

AHMEDABAD: Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister Punjab and president Shiromani Akali Dal rejected the proposed move of Union Government to decontrol the diesel or cap the subsidy immediately after Presidential election and said that the party would not allow decontrol of diesel till Minimum Support Price of agricultural produce was linked with price index as per the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.

"World over agriculture sector was highly subsidized by the governments unlike India.Firstly they have decontrolled the fertilizer sector by nutrient based formula, which has doubled the price of DAP within six months and raise the price of urea and now they have embarked upon decontrolling the diesel that would adversely affect the dwindling economy of agriculture and road transport sector," said Mr. Badal .

He added that the government have deliberately deferred this decision after presidential poll to safeguard the votes of their allies including TMC and new found partners including SP, BSP, JD (U) in the upcoming presidential elections.

Mr Badal said that on one hand the centre government was taking decisions that were raising the price of agriculture inputs by 100% but was raising MSP by only 15% that would further push farmers deeper in the debt trap. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal had been pleading with the Congress led UPA government to implement the report of Swaminathan Commission to link MSP with price index but to no avail.