SHIMLA: Sayunkt Kisan Manch(SKM) of 28 farmers' organisations today deserted the “committee meeting" and declared that the apple growers from over the apple belt would gherao the CAS stores of Adani Agri fresh at Sainj, Rohru and Bithal and other companies on August 25 as the state government’s committee has turned to be an eyewash.
SKM said that Adani has already declared its rates before the meeting of the committee as the government is giving free hand to the Adani and other 18 companies, which buy apple from the farmers. The rates opened by the Adani is Rs 10 - Rs 8 per kg less than what was declared last year, resented the farmers.
The meeting of the committee, constituted by the government under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor Dr YS Parmar university of horticulture and forestry was held today in the directorate of horticulture.
As many as 16 private companies and officials and SKM were supposed to participate in this meeting.
Convenor Harish Chauhan and co-convener Sanjay Chauhan SKM participated in this meeting. But it was shocking that only four members of the committee, including two horticulturists were, one expert and the Managing Director of HPMC were absent, they resented.
But surprisingly some people who are not the members of committee were present in it, they charged.
Even representatives of only 8 companies out of 18 companies who buy apples from the farmers were present while 10 companies did not turn up the meeting this meeting that has made mockery of the committee, the farmers charged.
Even there were no higher officials of companies including Adani participated in the meeting it, SKS resented casting doubts over the seriousness of the government committee.
SKM Demand that Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between these companies and the government should be presented in the meeting. Surprisingly, the Member Secretary of the committee was told that no Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with these companies.
SKM expressed doubts that if the government has not signed any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with these companies, then how the government has given subsidy of crores of rupees to set up CA stores in the state.
Samyukt Kisan Manch boycotted this meeting due to the indifferent attitude of the government towards these companies.
Harish Chauhan said the chairman was urged that the meeting should be held according to the conditions fixed by the government, in which mainly the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the companies and the government should be discussed.
SKM raised the point from the chairman of committee that as to why Adani and other companies have fixed the price of apple being purchased before the meeting of the committee.
SKM charged that the companies have opened its rates in violation the notification of the government.
The government should take strict action against them. The apple farmers have decided to gherao Adani's CA stores on August 25 to expose the double speak of the government, SKM asserted.
The SKM charged the formation of the committee is only a formality by the government and is working under the pressure of Adani and other companies, cheating lakhs of farmers.
Samyukta Kisan Manch has decided to intensify this movement till all the demands of farmers are not implemented.
