Punjab BJP promises MSP for all crops, cites Haryana model
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s newly constituted Kisan Morcha state unit convened a meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday, 10 October, where Punjab BJP State President Kewal Singh Dhillon pledged that a BJP government in Punjab would extend minimum support price (MSP) coverage to all crops — including fruits and vegetables — mirroring the model reportedly implemented by the BJP-led government in Haryana.
The MSP Promise and the Haryana Benchmark
Dhillon stated that the BJP government in Haryana is currently providing MSP for all crops, and that Punjab farmers would receive the same guarantee if the party came to power in the state. He said the proposed policy would extend coverage beyond the existing wheat and paddy support to encompass a broader range of agricultural produce, including fruits and vegetables.
The pledge comes as the BJP looks to consolidate its farmer outreach in a state where agriculture is the economic backbone and where rival parties have made farm welfare a central political issue.
BJP's Attack on the AAP Government
Dhillon trained sharp criticism on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state government, alleging that its policies had pushed Punjab towards financial distress and that farmers' concerns were being systematically neglected. He recalled that AAP had promised — before the elections — to ensure MSP for all crops 'within five minutes' of assuming power.
'The poor policies of the Aam Aadmi Party government had pushed Punjab towards financial distress and the concerns of farmers are being neglected. Punjab's prosperity was possible only when its farmers were prosperous,' Dhillon said.
He added that over four-and-a-half years in power, the AAP government had failed to deliver on those commitments to the farming community.
What the Centre Is Already Doing, According to BJP
Dhillon highlighted several central government initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he said were already benefiting Punjab's farmers. These include MSP procurement for wheat and paddy, financial assistance through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, and a subsidised urea programme under which a bag otherwise priced at approximately ₹2,800 is made available to farmers for just ₹266.
He urged the newly appointed Kisan Morcha office-bearers to carry these messages to every village and household in Punjab, intensifying grassroots outreach ahead of any future electoral cycle.
Kisan Morcha Leadership and Next Steps
The meeting also served as a formal orientation for the reconstituted Kisan Morcha state team, led by its state president Lakhwinder Singh. The team felicitated Dhillon and pledged to work towards strengthening the BJP at every organisational level across the state.
Dhillon asked office-bearers to work with dedication and commitment, stressing that farmer-friendly outreach would be central to the party's ground strategy in Punjab in the months ahead.