Claiming that fertilisers meant for farmers are sold to industries by the Gujarat government, Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers Shrikanth Jena said that their price is high compared to other states. He was in Surat on Sunday to address Odia Sammelan organised by Surat District Congress at Udhna community hall in Harinagar. The hall was crowded, especially with Odia people who wanted to get a glimpse of their leader.
“No partiality is being done in allotting fertilisers. Gujarat receives the allotted quota. The state government is diverting all fertilisers to industries rather than providing them to farmers. This has led to scarcity of fertilisers in the state,” said Jena. He also lashed out at the state government for making fertilisers costly in Gujarat. “They are charging Rs10 extra in the name of VAT which has made the fertiliser bag costlier. CM Narendra Modi boasts of being farmer friendly, but his policies are creating troubles for the peasants,” he added.
He opined that the so-called developed state has no policy for labour class people. The migrant population has seldom received importance. Till today, the majority of migrant population is backward and deprived of basic amenities. Jena said that his ministry has given Rs7,000 crore under various projects to the state government but till now no information has been provided to the Union ministry as to where the amount was spent. He expressed the desire to take part in an open debate with state government on these issues.
