An all-party meeting convened by Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday on providing more financial assistance to cotton, paddy and soyabean farmers was inconclusive, with no decision taken.
Chavan told reporters here after a two-hour meet that the issue of increasing the Minimum Support Price for farmers was discussed with political party leaders. "They gave the government good suggestions on what should be done. These are being seriously considered and going to be discussed in the Cabinet," he said.
The CM will meet representatives of farmer organisations on the issue later in the day. The Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is demanding a Rs 6,000 per quintal MSP for cotton growers.
The Congress and NCP are demanding a higher price as well. The Congress has sought a separate financial package for farmers while pursuing the demand for an increase in the MSP for cotton with the Centre. At present, the MSP for cotton is Rs 3,300.
He said he was in touch with the Centre, including Prime Minister Manomohan Singh, on the issue. Leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly Eknath Khadse criticised the government for delaying a decision on providing relief to farmers.
"This government is neck deep in debt and hence have no money. Leave alone Rs 6,000, the government is unwilling to give even Rs 4,000 as MSP," he charged. Bala Nandgaonkar (MNS), Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) and Manikrao Thakre (Congress) were prominent among the political party leaders present at the meeting.