Agriculture Minister said 'that Congress is doing "politics of lies" on the issue of farmers'.

New Delhi: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday accused the Congress of doing politics of lies on the issue of farmers and adopting double standards on agricultural laws. Responding to Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda's question on the promise of minimum support price after the farmers' agitation last year, Tomar said in the Rajya Sabha that a committee has been formed to consider the proposal.

Tomar said, "The Congress has always been indulging in the politics of lies. During the farmer's movement, Congress adopted double standards. We enacted the laws which the Congress used to talk about while in power." Congress members opposed the minister's remarks. Hooda demanded that some of Tomar's remarks be expunged, after which Deputy Speaker Harivansh said that the records would be examined.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh protested on the borders of the national capital for more than a year demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of all three laws in November last year. The Congress unit for farmers has accused the BJP-led central government of not cooperating with the farmers and going back on its promises.

NCP member Praful Patel said that the cost of agricultural produce is high in the Vidarbha region due to rain dependence and urged that an estimate be prepared to remove the difference in the cost of agricultural produce under MSP. Tomar said that the MSP is the same for the whole country and the process of determining it is fixed. He said that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices announces the MSP after consultation with the states.

The minister said that it is true that the cost of production varies from state to state as there is a difference in the environment. The Swaminathan Commission submitted a recommendation in 2006 which included the suggestion of adding 50 percent profit over the cost of production to declare the MSP.

Tomar said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted this recommendation. At present, MSP is declared by adding 50 percent profit on cost." He said that wheat procurement has increased from 281 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 433 lakh metric tonnes now. Tomar said, "At that time Rs 1.06 lakh crore was spent on procurement, now Rs 2.75 lakh crore is spent on procurement and farmers are getting its benefits."