The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : MSP issue: call for Andhra Pradesh bandh on November 21

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 19, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

MSP issue: call for Andhra Pradesh bandh on November 21

Special Correspondent

Hunger strike launched to mount pressure on government

HYDERABAD: Farmers’ organisations affiliated to various political parties have called for Andhra Pradesh bandh on November 21 to protest against the Government’s indifference in enhancing Minimum Support Price for paddy to Rs. 1,000 per quintal.

Representatives of the Communist Party of India-affiliated AP Ryotu Sangham, CPI (M)’s Rythu Sangham, Telugu Desam Party’s Telugu Rythu, Bharatiya Janata Kisan Morcha and TRS’ farmers’ wing launched an indefinite hunger strike on Sunday to mount pressure on the Government to concede their demand.

Bonus

The Rs.50 bonus, announced by the Centre, was an ‘eyewash’ and would not serve any purpose, they said.

Threat issued

Addressing the participants, Telugu Rythu president Cheruku Muthyam Reddy and Ryotu Sangham president K. Ramakrishna said the organisations would intensify their protest if the Government failed to enhance the Minimum Support Price for paddy and other crops.

V. Surender Reddy, TRS farmers’ wing president, said that in addition to the bonus, the State should contribute the balance amount to fulfil the farmers’ aspiration of Rs.1,000 MSP for paddy.

Demand

Bharatiya Janata Party State president Bandaru Dattatreya, who called on the agitators, wanted the Government to understand the concerns expressed by farmers and concede the demand.

The Centre was not inclined to enhance the MSP for paddy, he lamented.

Manmohan faulted

Faulting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his “lack of understanding” of farmers’ issues, he wondered how the increased production target by three million tonnes could be achieved if farmers were not paid remunerative prices.

BJP to raise issue

Expressing support to the bandh, Mr. Dattatreya said the party would raise the issue in Parliament and mount pressure on the Central Government.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh