BJP taking apple growers for a ride: Minister

SHIMLA: Industries minister Ram Lal Thakur on Monday dared the BJP leaders to launch an agitation on the issue of problems being faced by the apple growers of the state, adding that the government was seized of the bumper apple crop and was making elaborate arrangements for marketing, transportation and supply of cartons.
Reacting to the statement made by some state BJP leadrers threatening to launch an agitation on the issue, he said that they were free to do so, but hastened to add that the apple growers of the state would not be taken in by the misleading and politically motivated approach.
Ridiculing them for giving misleading statements, he said that the BJP leaders were the least interested about the welfare of the apple growers, but were trying to achieve political mileage for selfish ends. "This is not something new, as it has been the habit of BJP leaders to make issues out of non-issues", he added.
Thakur said that the growers of the state cannot forget the fact that it was under the Congress government headed by Virbhadra Singh, that Himachal became the first state in the country to give support price for apples and other fruits under the market intervention scheme, as the interest of the apple and other fruit growers had always been paramount for it.
On the contrary the BJP which had been in power in the state from 1998 to 2002, and its government which had posed to be a benefactor of the apple growers had raised the support price of apples by a mere 50 paise in five years, and that too by 25 paise at the beginning of its term and another 25 paise at the fag end, merely to get political mileage, he alleged.
He said that over 90 lakh apple boxes had been sent to the markets so far during the current apple season as against 62 lakh boxes sent last year in the corresponding period. And over 22,350 trucks had been made available during this period, as against 16,000 last year, he added.
The minister said that all the 272 apple collection centres had been made functional and 5379 metric tonnes of apple had already been procured under the market intervention scheme. "The government is reviewing the supply of cartons, availability of boxes and trucks from time to time", he added.
He said that the chief minister was personally taking keen interest in the matter and the administration had been directed that the apple growers should not face any inconvenince for want of any requirements. Despite the heavy rains, orders had also been given to ensure that roads in apple growing areas remain open for traffic and repairs if any, are done on priority basis, he added.