Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 16: The BJP Kissan Morcha will hold a nationwide agitation from August 20 to protest against the increase in prices of fertilizers and failure of the UPA Government in granting adequate relief to drought-hit farmers.
Criticizing the new fertilizer policy of the Government at a press conference here today the national president of the Morcha Om Parkash Dhankhar termed it anti farmers as it has taken the commodity far away from the hands of a farmers. Fertilizer is the main input for farmers after water and seeds and so the farmers should get the supply without hassles.
Dhankar said that on August 20, farmers from all over the country will get together at Jantar-Mantar in Delhi and stage a massive protest against the anti farmers policies of Congress led UPA Government.
Supporting these farmers national president, BJP Nitin Gadkari and former Union Minister Rajnath Singh will sit on a dharna, he said, adding, while farmers will take to the streets, BJP Parliamentarians will fight raise the issue in the Parliament.
He said the Government increased prices of urea by 10 per cent in 2010 and now again plans to increase the same by another 10 per cent, the Morcha chief said, adding, that during the last meeting of Cabinet Ministers on economic affairs held on June 14, the decision on proposed hike was delayed under pressure from the masses.
He said spiraling prices of fertilizers are proving taxing for farmers as prices of DAP have increased by 2.5 times since 2010, while prices of MOP have gone up by 3.75 times and prices of SSP have doubled since then.
Dhankar said the so-called nutrition based subsidy has become nutritious for importers and producers as well as the Central Government and the condition of farmers is pathetic all over the country.
Dhankar demanded that farmers be given direct subsidy, instead of giving the same to manufacturers, exporters and retailers.
He also demanded that farmers of drought-hit areas be paid Rs 10,000 per acre and special packages be given to the drought hit States. The present so-called nutritious based policy should be suspended and the increased prices be rolled back. Besides the Government should immediately release the interim relief to all the States without any prejudice.
The Morcha leaders who were present in the press conference included its national secretary and J&K Prabhari S Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal, Kissan Morcha State president, Karan Singh, and Kissan Morcha National Executive Member S Charanjit Singh Khalsa.
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