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Calling for a greater synergy between the Centre and states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked Chief Ministers across the political spectrum to not allow political differences come in the way of nation building.
“Irrespective of the political parties they belong to, the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers will have to work together. There can be different political parties, but the country is one. We have to move forward shoulder-to-shoulder,” Modi said at the launch of a food park here.
“Earlier, the states and the Centre either competed with or hated each other due to political reasons. Some states also felt ‘dushmani’ (animosity towards the Centre). The country can’t run like this. The states and the Centre will have to work as a team to take the country forward,” Modi added.
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Modi’s remarks came against the backdrop of two Congress Chief Ministers — Prithviraj Chavan of Maharashtra and Haryana’s Bhupinder Singh Hooda — deciding to boycott his official functions after being booed by alleged BJP workers in the Prime Minister’s presence. Congress had even asked its CMs and those of other opposition parties to skip Modi’s functions unless BJP workers behaved properly.
However, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was present at today’s function. Modi said he will be able to win the confidence of all chief ministers, irrespective of their political affiliation. “I will earn the confidence of all the states and their chief ministers in due course of time and see how we can benefit from the lateral spirit of federalism,” he said.
<b>Cola firms asked to blend aerated drinks with fruit juice </b>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked soft drink makers like Pepsi to try and mix aerated drinks with 5 per cent fruit juice to help distressed farmers find a new market for their produce. “We drink Pepsi, Coca-Cola and I do not know how many similar beverages are available in the market. The trade runs into billions of rupees. I have asked the companies if they can blend 5 per cent natural fruit juice in the beverages they make,” Modi said after inaugurating the country’s first integrated food park here.
“I am not asking for much. If 5 per cent of juice from fruits produced by our farmers is added, the farmer will not be forced to search for a market to sell. A single decision can ensure billions of rupees of trade,” he said. Modi added that he has already asked the Central government’s research bodies to work on the possibility of blending cola drinks, which are widely considered unhealthy, with natural fruit juice.
By doing so, he said, farmers will not be forced to dump their produce and let it go waste because of unremunerative prices and the country can save Rs 30,000-40,000 crore by reducing the wastage of food products through processing.
According to a report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations released last December, the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages is expected to increase 16.5-19 per cent over the next three years in the country. The report says corporate manufacturers of non-alcoholic beverages are expected to grow at an annual rate of 16.5 per cent and non-corporate manufacturers at 19 per cent.
The estimates are based on an assumed gross domestic product growth of 7 per cent, which is much higher than the 5 per cent growth several economists have forecast. The country’s beverage market is largely unorganised, with nearly 75 per cent of the demand serviced by companies in the unorganised sector.
In his 20-minute speech, Modi stressed on the importance of proper storage, processing and value additions, which will be done at the park. He also underscored the need for adopting more scientific methods of farming.
Minister of State for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the government is planning to open four more such parks across the country this fiscal and take the number up to 17 over time.
Kaur said such facilities will help control the worrisome food inflation, which has been persistently hovering at the double digit mark, leading to a slew of problems like a high interest rate regime. At the event, Modi said his administration is committed to providing the necessary infrastructure, including facilities to export food products by sea. He said there is an increased awareness about Indian food globally and the companies here should leverage that and make ready-to-eat products like curries.
Modi also stressed on the need to capitalise on the opportunity presented by the demand for organic food, saying regions along the Himalayas and in the north east, untouched by modern farming till now, can produce the required stuff. With growth being the rallying theme, Modi said the country can progress only if the purchasing power of the villagers grows.
