NEW DELHI: The special package announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for farmers has failed to address the core issues that have a direct bearing on suicides by cotton farmers of Vidharbha, the Bharatiya Janata Party said on Tuesday.

"What he offered was a lollipop. He did not touch the basic issues that have led to increasing number of farmers taking their lives. The basic issue is lack of remunerative prices for cotton," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

He said the Government had reduced duties on imported cotton, making it cheaper. This contributed to depressed domestic prices.

The imported cotton was also cheaper because high subsidies had been given to farmers in the developed countries.

The Congress had promised that cotton would be bought from farmers at Rs. 2700 a quintal but that scheme had ended. Now, the Government was making purchases at Rs. 1700. This price was not enough to cover the costs. This had increased the indebtedness of farmers, often leading to suicides, he said.

On July 12, the party's central office-bearers would meet to chalk out plans for the next phase of agitation on high prices of essential commodities. It was ironical that while farmers were not getting adequate price for their produce, the consumer had to pay more.

Total waiver needed

Mr. Javadekar said while the Prime Minister had announced waiver of interest on loans taken by farmers and rescheduling of loans, the grim situation demanded total waiver so that the affected farmers could begin afresh.

The crisis in cotton farming was due to the Bt cottonseed supplied by Monsanto. They cost more and promised more but often the yield was lower, especially on the land that did not have assured irrigation.

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