Maharashtra Opposition Stages Walkout After Minister’s Response On Cotton And Soybean Procurement Sparks Anger

Nagpur: The opposition members staged a walkout on Thursday from the state Assembly during question hour as they were not satisfied by the stand taken by the government over poor rates given to cotton, soyabean crops.

Member Sanjay Danve raised the issue of the soya and cotton farmers getting prices far below the minimum support price fixed this year by the government.  A livid Congress member Vijay Wadettiwar and Nana Patole said at a time when 6 to 8 farmers were committing suicide daily as they were unable to get remunerative pricesi, the government had failed to procure at MSP rates.

Marketing minister Jaykumar Rawal tried to pacify them with his replies. He said NAFED and CCI, the government agencies were indeed procuring cotton and soyabean from farmers. Bu the angry members said most of the purchase centres were not functioning and the farmers were forced to sell to private traders at throwaway rates.

The members also pointed out that the conditions put forward by the agencies for purchase, made it impossible for farmers to sell crop to them. Wadettiwar wanted the import duty of 12% restored on cotton and said the duty cut to zero resulted in crash in domestic prices of cotton.

When the discussion dragged on for 28 minutes, Speaker Rahul Narwekar, came to the rescue of the minister saying that the matter would be further discussed in his chamber at 3 pm with members interested. Opposition members were not happy with this and staged a walkout accusing the government of making mockery of farmers.

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