Centre's Minimum Support Price For Wheat "Pathetic", Says Amarinder Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ripped into the Centre's newly announced Minimum Support Price for wheat, calling it "pathetic". The support price was announced today after a green signal from the union cabinet amid an escalation in the ongoing protest by farmers against the Centre's three farm laws. The highest absolute increase in MSP was suggested for lentil (masur), rapeseeds and mustard -- Rs 400 per quintal each. The MSP for wheat was hiked by Rs 40 to Rs 2,015 per quintal. The expected returns to farmers over their cost of production are estimated to be highest in case of wheat, rapeseed and mustard. But for Punjab, the grain bowl of India, it was far below expectation."This is rubbing of salt on wounds of agitating farmers... the MSP is far below their expectation," Amarinder Singh said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his support for the new support prices.