Shimla | TNR
Apple growers across the state staged demonstrations demanding minimum support price (MSP) of apples. Memorandums to Chief Minister Jairam Thakur were submitted to the local SDM.
Unhappy over not being called for talks, despite warnings from the United Farmers Manch, growers demonstrated in Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur and Mandi districts.
Private houses warned
Harish Chauhan, convenor of the United Farmers Manch, while addressing the growers of Rohru, demanded that private houses stop their unfair and unjustified attitude towards growers and reiterated that the government give growers MSP on the lines of Kashmir while implementing the APMC Act. Rohru MLA Brakta also participated in the protest.
Theog MLA criticises govt
Addressing the dharna in Narkanda, Theog MLA Rakesh Singla said that growers were unable to get the basic cost price of apples and the government was acting indifferent to them by refusing to hold talks.
The Manch had submitted their demands to the government on July 30, but the government had shown no inclination to call them for talks even after two weeks.
Several women too participated in the dharna.
In Theog, farmer leader Sohan Thakur said that farmers and apple growers were being looted openly in the mandis so much so that the government had failed to get them their payments which had been stalled for two years.
Farmers unhappy with the attitude of the government will protest across the state on September 27.
