Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann slams Centre over no representation in MSP panel

Chandigarh, July 20: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday criticised the Centre for the exclusion of the Punjab Government and premiere state institutions from the Central Government committee on agriculture issues, including an effective minimum support price mechanism. Slamming the Centre after no representation to the state, Bhagwant said in a roughly translated tweet: "I condemn Centre for not representing Punjab in the committee formed on MSP. Farmers of Punjab are already stressed by their crop cycle and debt." "MSP is our legal right. Centre should ensure representation of Punjab in MSP committee," he added. Also Read | NEET dress code controversy: Five arrested for 'forcing' girl students to remove innerwear The Committee constituted last week, includes officers from Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh but no one from Punjab figures is on the list. No representation has been given in the committee to the premier agricultural university of the state, Punjab Agricultural University, though representatives from the National Institute of Agricultural Extension, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, and Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur, are represented through their Directors-General/Vice Chancellors. Meanwhile, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders, Darshan Pal and Yogendra Yadav, outright rejected the committee on Monday evening. Also Read | PM Modi to interact with Indian contingent for Commonwealth Games 2022 -PTC News