Rajkot, 6 April, 2012

Target ting the Centre for being “insensitive” towards farmers and being “anti-Gujarat”, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi today said the policies like banning export of cotton have affected farmers from the state to a great extent.

Modi in his speech on the occasion of flagging off ceremony of BJP’s Kisan yatra was most vocal to protest against the ban imposed by the Centre on export of cotton, which was later withdrawn.

“With the ban not only the farmers of the state had to suffer heavy losses but created a shortage of cottonseed oil that led to increase in the prices of other edible oils as well” Modi said.

Modi said, “In our country, only six per cent of people consume groundnut oil. Most consume cottonseed oil. Congress-led central government banned export of cotton. This affected the cottonseed availability and led to escalation in cottonseed and groundnut oil prices.”

Criticising the Centre for not allowing construction of gates at Sardar Sarovar project, the chief minister said the UPA government chose so ignoring repeated appeals made in this regard.

“If the government at Centre has any concern for farmers then it should have given permission for construction of gates at Narmada dam,” Modi said.

He also claimed that his government has started giving electricity connection in even dark-zone areas in the state.

Kishan Yatra, which will traverse a distance of around 2000 kms in Saurashtra region, was launched by state BJP unit president RC Faldu with an objective to create awareness among farmers about adopting scientific methods in tilling to improve their produce.