VIJAYAWADA: Akhil Bharat Kisan Sabha vice-president Kolli Nageswara Rao has criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's observation, made in the course of his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, that providing remunerative prices to various agricultural produce would lead to escalation in the prices of essential commodities.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Rao said the Prime Minister's observation did not match with the ground reality. The prices of essential commodities were on the rise only because traders were procuring them from farmers at a lesser price and selling them to consumers at a higher price.

If this two-way exploitation of farmers and consumers was checked, essential commodities could be made available at cheaper prices to consumers even while ensuring remunerative price to farmers.

Flood relief

Mr. Rao also demanded Rs. 1,000-crore assistance to Andhra Pradesh, as the Rs. 200 crores announced by the Centre was just too inadequate.

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