The BJP will launch a countrywide agitation to protest against the neglect of the farm sector and farmers by the Centre and different State governments, national vice-president of the party Purushottam Rupala announced here on Friday.
Describing the Centre and the State Government as anti-farmer, Rupala told mediapersons here that though the Farmers Commission set up by the Centre has recommended upward revision of minimum support price (MSP) for different crops since 2006, the report is lying in cold storage.
Rupala alleged that the Centre and the State governments ignore the demands of the farmers affected by natural calamities, including flood and drought. A farmer earns between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 from an acre, but the Centre provides only Rs 800 per acre for damage of crops. Some State governments provide Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 to the farmers affected by natural calamities, he said.
Besides, he demanded pension for farmers from the age of 60 years. The farmers should also be provided insurance cover for accidents and treatment of diseases, he said and added that there should also be structural changes to ensure right to land for the farmers.
State unit BJP Kisan Morcha president Maheswar Sahu, party spokesman Sajjan Sharma and senior leaders were present.