Apple Growers cordon Himachal state secteriat
On the call of Sayunkat Kisan Munch Apple growers and Farmers in large numbers cordon state secteriat forcing local administration to divert vehicular traffic here on Friday. The Protest was attended by SKM convenor Harish Chauhan and Co-convener Sanjay Chauhan, Congress MLA Rohit Thakur, CPI(M) MLA Rakesh Singha and other Congress MLA and AAP and CPM leaders. The police baricarded state secteriat by blocking traffic at State Secteriat and Saint Beds college. Protesters did not allowed to approach state secteriat for five hours. The Protest was held in support of withdrawal of hike in GST by 18 per cent on Agriculture and Horticulture packaging materials and cartons. 20 points demand charter including not released of payment of Rs 45 Crore by HPMC and HIMFED under MIS scheme after purchasing apple crops for last three years. Protesters demanded subsidy on the Anti-hailnut, Agriculture and Horticulture inputs and forming a Bagwani Committee to recommendations of Goverment for marketing and horticulture expansion in the State. Apple crop is backbone of hill Economy which contributes around Rs 5500 Cr to state GDP and provide livilihood to three lakh households.
