It is necessary to defeat BJP to save apple industry: Rohit Thakur
Rohit Thakur said that due to the anti-people policies of the BJP, apple gardening has been marginalized. He said that in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had talked about increasing the import duty on apples to 100%, on the contrary, BJP reduced it from 70% to 35%. After the reduction in import duty, apples were imported into the country from about 44 countries, due to which the gardeners are having to bear the brunt financially.
Rohit Thakur said that the previous BJP government had failed to pay the dues of Apple under MIS. He said that the Congress government has paid the dues of ₹98 crore of MIS to the gardeners and the remaining dues will be released soon. Rohit Thakur said that by ending the 50% subsidy received from the Center under MIS, BJP has rubbed salt into the wounds of the gardeners.
He said that the Congress government after coming to power has tried to solve the burning issues of apple horticulture. He said that many decisions were taken like selling apples by the kilogram, and implementing universal carton. Rohit Thakur said that so that horticulture can prosper in the state, the government has decided to set up CA stores at various places.
Rohit Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country where MSP has been implemented on milk.
Rohit Thakur asked the public to vote for Congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri.
Congress candidate from Shimla Lok Sabha constituency Vinod Sultanpuri said that apple gardening is under threat due to BJP’s anti-gardener policies. The voice of the gardeners will be raised with full force in the Parliament for increasing the import duty. He said that the Modi government had talked about doubling the income of farmers and gardeners by 2022, but the income has not increased but today the costs in the agriculture-horticulture sector have doubled.
Vinod Sultanpuri appealed to the public to vote for the Congress Party.
Former MLA Comrade Rakesh Singha and former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said that the Congress party will win all four Lok Sabha and 6 assembly seats of the state. Rakesh Singha said that BJP is responsible for the martyrdom of more than 800 agitating farmers. Former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said that the 2024 elections are a fight to save the country’s democracy. He cornered BJP on Agniveer scheme.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri, Comrade Rakesh Singha and Sanjay Chauhan in Jubbal area Kot–Kayana, Mandhol, Sari Kainchi, Chebri, Patsari, Bharot of Anti Sharachli area, Seb Mandi Anu, Dochi, Sundli and Nagar Panchayat Jubbal.
