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Government ignoring plight of apple growers: BJP

Staff Correspondent

`Big companies take fruit from some growers only'

SHIMLA: Former Himachal Horticulture Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Bragta on Monday accused the Congress Government of paying no attention to the plight of apple growers in the State despite a 65 per cent fall in fruit production this year.

Addressing a press conference here along with Kisan Morcha leaders, the former Minister said the State Government was going for a total sell-out of the interests of local farmers to the big companies like Reliance, Adani and Dev Bhumi. "These companies have made big cold stores and take the choicest fruit from some preferred growers in politically sensitive belts of upper Shimla district. Small and marginal peasants are at the mercy of market forces with no Government collection centres being set up." `The government subsidiaries were running at profit during the BJP regime up to 2003.'

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Government ignoring plight of apple growers: BJP

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