Samyukta Kisan Manch reminds PM Modi of his eight year old promise to Apple farmers

Samyukta Kisan Manch of the state , which is fighting for the interests of farmers and gardeners in the state , has reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his eight year – old promise before the program  in Shimla.  Manch’s co-convener Sanjay Chauhan said Prime Minister Modi had promised to increase the import duty on apples to the gardeners of the state eight years ago, but this promise has not been fulfilled yet.  He said that the central government did not increase the import duty , but due to the policy of free trade , the orchards of the state lost crores in the last apple season due to the import of apples from Iran .  Chauhan says that the Prime Minister  also promised to introduce a system of compulsorily adding apple juice to all types of soft drinks.  It was not completed either .  Last year, hailstorms and untimely snowfall caused a loss of crores to the gardeners.  The government did some formality in the name of damage assessment but none of the gardeners got compensation of even a single rupee .  This year too , due to the drought hitting the apple crop , the gardeners are worried .  In such a situation , when the celebration of eight years is being celebrated in Shimla , it is expected that the Prime Minister will announce the import duty on apples to 100 percent and the policy of free trade will be amended .