FORMER PRIME Minister VP Singh on Friday took strong exception to the State government’s reported move to allow multi-national companies (MNC) to take up contract farming and demanded its withdrawal.
Allowing MNCs to take up contract farming in the State under the new agriculture policy would not be in the interest of the country and needed an immediate review, Singh told newspersons here.He also asked the Union Government to clarify its stand on the issue.
Singh said efforts for allowing entry of MNCs in the farm sector had been on since long. If allowed, it would enable them to take over the agriculture sector, which is the backbone of Indian economy, he said.
Recalling the role of East India Company, Singh said allowing MNC in the agriculture sector could also hit the political scene of the country.
Demanding job for at least one member of the farmers’ family providing land for setting up the Dadri power project by the Reliance Group, Singh said the displaced farmers be given exemption on stamp fees for the alternative land being provided to them.
When the government could exempt stamp duty for Reliance, how could it ignore the farmers, he asked.To a question on former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s decision to stay away from electoral politics, Singh said politics would not give him up even if he wanted to do so.
When the government could exempt stamp duty for Reliance, how could it ignore the farmers, he asked.To a question on former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s decision to stay away from electoral politics, Singh said politics would not give him up even if he wanted to do so.