At a time when preparations for the 7th edition of Vibrant Gujarat is in full swing, the Gujarat Congress has threatened the State Government that it will be taking up agitating farmers’ issue of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) in cotton and other crops, and will intensify its protest.
In fact, the Gujarat Congress has given ultimatum that if the issue of MSP would not be solved within eight days, Congress leaders will not only intensify support to the farmers but would also not hesitate to interrupt ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ event scheduled to kick-start on January 11, 2015. “The Congress would not allow the event to take place if the Government did not announce hike in MSPs for cotton and groundnut,” said Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhvadia and leader of the Opposition (lOP) in the State Assembly Shankarsinh Vaghela.
A larger number of farmers are agitating against the State Government under the leadership of Bhartiya Kishan Sangh (BKS) — an offshoot of Sangh Parivar. Though, the State Government had solved 50 per cent of farmers’ problems by announcing relief of Rs1,100 crore in the electricity bills and interest on short-term loans, the agitating farmers’ demand to increase the MSPs for Cotton and Groundnut still not solved.
The State Government appointed a four-member Cabinet sub-committee headed by Health Minister Nitin Patel for talks with the farmers’ leaders following which the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, the farmers’ wing of the ruling BJP, suspended its agitation seeking remunerative prices for the farmers. The cotton and groundnut growers in the State, however, ignored the BKS call to withdraw the agitation and organised protest demonstrations in various parts of the State and boycotted the Government’s ‘Ravi Krishi Mahotsava’ at different centres. At least 300 farmers were also detained by the police following skirmishes at various places over boycotting the Krishi Mahotsava.
Sources said that the State Government machinery was active to resolve the issue as early as possible in wake of upcoming big events — 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) and Vibrant Gujarat Summit in a fortnight. Both these events will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will feature guests from across the world visiting State capital Gandhinagar.