Delhi:
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday blamed the global economic situation and surplus production for farmers’ woes, and assured that the Centre is working on “a war footing” to solve their problems.
The Union Minister of Shipping and Road Transport was addressing a press conference to highlight the BJP-led Central government’s achievements in the last four years.
“This situation has arisen due to the global economy and surplus production. This is an old issue, not a new one. The government is working on a war footing by formulating mid- and long-term policies as well as exporting excess produce,” he said to a question about the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
When asked about the situation in Maharashtra, which has witnessed major farmers’ agitations recently, he said, “Farmers are facing some difficulties, not getting proper minimum support price, and milk prices have come down. But Maharashtra is a progressive state. Around Rs 2,000 crore worth of grapes and Rs 1,600 crore worth of onions have been exported from here. Dry ports are coming up in Nashik, Jalna, Wardha, Pune and Sangli. Irrigation potential is increasing in Maharashtra,” Gadkari said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is in Delhi today to meet the Union agriculture minister and discuss making more godowns available in view of excess tur dal production, he informed.
On the setbacks for the BJP in the Lok Sabha and Assembly by-elections in 11 states, Gadkari said, “Politics is not being done on the issue of development. Communal politics is being pursued (by Opposition) by creating fear in the minds of Muslims, Dalits and tribals.”
Opposition is spreading misinformation that Muslims are unsafe, Constitution will be changed and reservations for the tribals will be scrapped, the senior BJP leader alleged.
The BJP does not do politics of caste, language or religion, he said.
PROTESTS CONTINUE IN PUNJAB
With farmers’ agitation entering second day today, vegetable prices at various cities in Punjab, Haryana started soaring in the wake of the dwindling availability of produce.
Fresh supplies of farm produce in mandis even as the farmers dumped vegetables, milk on roads and blocked supplies to cities.
As part of the 10-day agitation that began on Friday, the farmers stopped supply of vegetables, fruits, milk and other items to various cities against the alleged anti-farmer policies of the Centre.
Though the impact of farmers’ stir on price of farm commodities was not visible yesterday, the retail prices of vegetables in several cities soared in the range of Rs 10-20 per kg on the second day today, forcing consumers in cities to shell out more for buying vegetables.
According to traders in Chandigarh, the price of tomatoes soared to Rs 20-25 per kg against Rs 10-15 per kg prevailing two days back. Similarly, retail prices of potatoes, capsicum, bottle gourd, cucumber, have also gone up on short supplies.
Traders said the fresh supplies of vegetables coming through vehicles in mandis have dwindled, triggering fears of more price rise in coming days.
The farmers continued to hold protest at several places in Punjab, including Nabha, Ludhiana, Muktsar, Tarn Taran, Nangal and Ferozepur and there were reports that farmers even put up blockades not to allow supply of vegetables and milk entering cities.
According to a report from Ferozepur, the farmers allegedly forced the closure of vegetable mandi.
In Bathinda, a group of farmers, owing allegiance to the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur), stopped some milk sellers from going to the city in the morning at village Jodhpur Romana which resulted into heated arguments among them.
Milk sellers were requesting the protesting farmers to allow them to sell their milk but they refused, said police.
Then, four farmers were taken into preventive custody, said Bathinda police station Sadar SHO Iqbal Singh. The farmers even staged sit-in outside police station demanding release of their fellow farmers.
In Mohali, a group of farmers parked their cars outside the entry gate of Verka milk plant as part of their protest. They were demanding that Verka milk plant should not procure milk from farmers. Verka is a brand of cooperative federation Milkfed Punjab.
The decision to stop supplies starting from June 1 till June 10 was taken by farmers under the banner of Kisan Ekta Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Maha Sangh.
The farmer organisations have been demanding minimum income guarantee scheme, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report and waiver of farmers’ debt.