Ahmedabad, 12 April 2012

Tweets, more tweets and statements, but what concrete steps you took for cotton growing farmers? Gujarat Congress asked Chief Minister Narendra Modi today in an open letter addressed to him.

In a letter, Gujarat Congress President Shri Arjun Modhwadia said, “the central Agriculture ministry had anticipated production of 340 lakh bales of cotton this year, and accordingly a decision was taken to allow export of 84 lakh bales. However, even beyond this, 94 lakh bales were allowed to export by February, after which partial controls had to be imposed to in view of need of cotton at home front for consumption in domestic textile industry. Concerned with farmers’ plight, it was Gujarat Congress that discussed the issue with centre, and played a role in ensuring procurement of cotton through Cotton Corporation of India(CCI). This was a concrete step taken for farmers. CCI is in process of procurement of cotton even today, and we are doing best efforts for longer continuation of procurement process. CCI is incurring loss in its procurement bid, but we have full faith that such procurement will continue, because this government genuinely feels for the farmers. This has been demonstrated in past when same govt removed debt of farmers.”

“But our direct question to you is that apart from statements, tweets and more tweets, whether your government actually did any concrete job for cotton growers? Governments in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra started direct procurement of cotton, but has your government bought a small piece of cotton candy? You gave large incentives to industries, but are you ready to spend for 0.1% fraction for procurement of cotton at a price of Rs 900 per quintal?” the letter asked Modi.

Modhwadia pointed out, “in past, Congress govt used to procure groundnut and oil from market through GROFAD and GUJCOMASOL. We have time and again demanded that the state government should buy groundnut oil and groundnut when groundnut stock is with the farmers. This time, the farmers sold groundnut stock for Rs 650, and at that time when groundnut oil was available in market at a price of Rs 1400 per 15 liter tin, government didn’t procure it. At present, when farmers have no more groundnut stock in their possession, price of groundnut oil is Rs 1200 per 20 kg and Rs 2100 per tin. Oil mafias procured groundnut for Rs 650 and delivered a tin of groundnut oil for Rs 2100 to customers instead of actual rate of Rs 1400 per tin.”

Requesting the state government to start procurement of cotton, Shri Modhwadia in open letter to CM said, “When central govt is procuring cotton at higher price compare to market rate, the Gujarat government should also demonstrate kindness for benefit of farmers. Instead of doing politics in the name of farmers, you should demonstrate Rajadharma and start procuring cotton.”