BJP would launch an agitation from September 2 in Himachal Pradesh to protest against state government's "indifferent and callous" attitude towards apple growers.
"State government has turned a blind eye to the plight of apple growers reeling under crashing prices of apple which have tumbled from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per box to Rs 400 to Rs 900 per box due to flooding of Indian markets by imported apple and has crippled the Rs 3,500 crore apple economy of the state," former BJP minister Narinder Bragta said today.
The Congress government in the state had promised to increase the import duty on apple by three times, but the UPA government at the Centre has completely abolished the import duty," he said while talking to reporters.
Bragta said, the NDA government-led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had increased the import duty on apples from 20 to 50 per cent.
"Instead of further raising to 150 per cent as promised, the UPA government has abolished it completely," he alleged.
The Congress government in the state has failed to protect the interests of apple growers and the Chief Minister has taken the issue casually, simply saying that the matter would be taken up with the Centre, he said.
Urging the state government to adopt a proactive approach on the issue, Bragta said BJP would fully support any move taken to protect the interests of apple growers.
Alleging that the present government has virtually shelved the ambitious ropeway schemes proposed by the previous BJP government for transportation of apple, he said the proposal has been confined only to Kotgarh and Kumarsein areas while Kotkhai, Rohroo and Jubbal have been left out.
All party MLAs would participate in the agitation which would be launched from Rampur, followed by Rohroo on September 4 and Chopal on September 6. Dates for other places would be announced later, Bragta said.
