The RSS-affiliated Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) will go ahead with its plan to hold a rally of farmers in Ahmedabad tomorrow for raising the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of cotton as its meeting with the BJP-ruled state government ended without any solution today.
BKS did not agree with the government's proposal of offering "reasonable" price for cotton at the meeting, attended by state health minister Nitin Patel, social justice and empowerment minister Ramanlal Vora and education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma and BKS state unit president Magan Patel, besides other representatives of the body.
"We had a detailed and intense discussion with farmers' representatives in context of ongoing movements. We, on the behalf of government, have proposed to give reasonable price for cotton along with some extra financial aid before Kisan Sangh (BKS)," Patel told reporters after emerging from the meeting.
He said BKS leaders also raised the demand for waiving off the agriculture loan and electricity bills of cotton-growers during the meeting, which will be taken up with Chief Minister Anandi Patel tomorrow.
"Kisan Sangh (BKS) representatives said that around 25 to 30 per cent of cotton has already been in various markets. BKS placed another demand for holding meetings with them on regular intervals, which was accepted by us. Kisan Sangh has also made some suggestions to include them or other farmers' representatives in the meeting wherein MSP is decided. This suggestion will be forwarded to union government," Patel said.
When asked about BKS' plan to hold the rally, Patel said it will be peaceful.
"Their rally will be peaceful. The government has no objection if any rally or a public meeting is held without affecting the law and order," Patel said.
BKS leader Magan Patel said they wanted a "substantial" decision from the state government on MSP.
