Himachal: CPI(M) and local Apple growers gherao Horti & Agro Minister MS Thakur

Shimla, Sep 3 (UNI) Theog Unit of CPI (M) and local apple growers on Friday gheraoed the Horticulture Minister Mahinder Singh Thakur and Agriculture Minister Varendra Kanwar at Theog market over the failure of Jai Ram Government to facilitates the apple season help the affected farmers after crashing of market.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Horticulture Minister Mr Mahender Singh Thakur gave a statement to the media recently that farmers should sell their apple crop in the streets carrying fruits in trays or crats which agitated the farmers.
Mr Thakur and Agriculture Minister were on the way to Paral apple market of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee to met with the apple growers and commission agents to meditate on the issue however number of farmers led by the local CPI(M) activists and number of apple growers gheraoed their convey while they were on the way to Paral around 1400 hrs on Friday.
Agitated farmers wanted to explain the horticulture minister’s logic behind his statement to sell Apple like a vendor on the road side. Protesters shouted slogan against the minster and Jai Ram Government for immature and absurd statements and not coming in support of apple growers who are affected by the Monopoly of apple cartels comprising of big corporates houses.
Local CPI(M) leader Sohan Singh said that an artificially slump has been created in the market as it decreased the prices of apple for procurement by Rs 16 per kg and forced hundreds of farmers to incur losses.
Himachal Pradesh Kissan Sabha president Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar and Secretary Dr Onkar Shad demanded the resignation of Mr Thakur being ignorant about the horticulture activists despite being minister for last three and half years. Minister should tender apology to farmers to misguide them.