High-level committee on farmers issue, BKS halts agitation, two Congress MLAs detained

Gandhinagar

Gujarat government has formed a high-level committee of ministers to discuss the issues of farmers.

Senior most minister Nitin Patel will head this committee which has ministers Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Babubhai Bokhiria and Saurabh Patel – all three cabinet rank ministers as its members.

The state government has asked Gujarat unit of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh(BKS) to send names of farmers who woud be part of a committee to make representation from farmers side. BKS has for now halted its agitation over cotton price and other issues.

Meanwhile Vinchhiya town(population:25,000) of Jasdan belt of Rajkot district is observing bandh today following yesterday’s self immolation incident in which a 21-year-old farmer Arvind Nagani died.

The state government has canceled its Ravi Krushi Mahotsav function in Jasdan following self immolation incident in nearby Vinchhiya town. The function was to be attended by minister Nitin Patel.

In another development, Gujarat Congress has called media at state party headquarters at 5.00 pm today. Congress canceled its proposed rally in Rajkot due to lack of police permission.

Moving to north Gujarat, two Congress MLAs (representing Bhiloda and Modasa) along with 58 Congress workers were detained while protesting outside Chief Minister Anandiben Patel’s function in Modasa town of Aravalli district. They were shouting slogans against government’s anti-farmer policies.

Speaking to media persons, the agitators said that they were protesting against low prices of cotton and other agri produce. They said they were also protesting against shortage of urea fertilizer. They said if one needs urea in black market, it is easily available at higher price, but at prescribed shops, even after long midnight queues in cold, it is not available.