Siddaramaiah writes to PM Modi on MSP for toor dal
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately approve MSP procurement of toor dal through two central agencies, and ensure immediate operational deployment across the state's major procurement centers before peak arrivals begin.
He warned that any further postponement at this critical juncture will inevitably lead to farmer unrest, price collapse, and a serious breakdown of trust in Minimum Support Price (MSP) as a viable public policy instrument.
In a letter to Prime Minister Modi dated December 8 and shared with the media on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah recalled that the Government of Karnataka has already submitted a formal proposal seeking immediate approval for MSP-based procurement of toor dal through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation Of India Limited (NCCF).
"However, we are still awaiting a response from the Union Government, even as market arrivals are approaching rapidly," he stated.
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In the letter, Siddaramaiah pointed out that during the current Kharif season (2025-26), toor dal has been sown across approximately 16.80 lakh hectares in Karnataka, with an expected production of over 12.60 lakh metric tonnes.
"The crop represents the backbone of income for farmers across major growing districts including Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Bidar, Raichur, Vijayapura, Koppal, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Bagalkote, Kolar, Chikkaballapura and Chitradurga, regions that embody both the agrarian strength and resilience of our State," he stated.
According to Siddaramaiah, at present, the modal market prices are ranging between Rs 5,830 and Rs 6,700 per quintal, while the MSP announced for toor dal for 2025-26 stands at nearly 28,000 per quintal.
Peak arrivals are expected between December 2025 and January 2026, but the Union Government will open the procurement centres only in February and March.
"It is evident that farmers are staring at a serious income shock, unless timely and decisive intervention is undertaken by the union government," the CM stated.
Siddaramaiah further noted that when the market price falls below MSP, it is not merely a question of economics; it is a question of trust between the farmer and the state.
Farmers have sown their crops trusting the MSP assurance given by the Centre, he said.
"Every day of delay is pushing Karnataka's farmers closer to distress sales, debt traps and irreversible financial damage," he added.
He stated that when farmers suffer because of delayed procurement, the damage is not confined to one season, it "erodes confidence" in public institutions themselves.
Karnataka's farmers were demanding only the rightful enforcement of a price already declared by the Government of India.
"I therefore urge you, with utmost seriousness and urgency, to, immediately approve MSP procurement of toor dal through NAFED and NCCF, and ensure immediate operational deployment across Karnataka's major procurement centers before peak arrivals begin," he stated.
Stressing that Karnataka has always stood at the forefront of national food security, Siddaramaiah said this is not merely an administrative decision.
"It is a moral test of our collective commitment to those who feed India. I expect an immediate and decisive response from the Union Government in the larger interest of farmers, federal cooperation, and national food security," he added.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
