The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) launched a statewide agitation today, as part of which farmers protested outside residences of local MLAs across Gujarat, to press for their demand to hike minimum support prices (MSP) of cotton and other agricultural commodities.
According to BKS activists, more than a around 100 MLAs faced BKS agitations this morning, including Mandvi MLA and the Minister of State for Cottage Industries Tarachand Chheda, outside whose residence over a thousand farmers gathered in Bhuj town of Kutch.
"Later, all these farmers were asked to leave the spot by the local police. BKS organised similar protests across Gujarat covering each and every MLA. Since they are our representatives, it is their duty to support our cause. To remind them about their duty, we agitated across the state," Gujarat BKS secretary Vitthal Dudhatara said.
Dhudhatara said they covered majority of the MLAs, from the northern district of Banashkantha to the southern district of Valsad and those not covered today will face their protest tomorrow.
Earlier, Gujarat BKS president Maganbhai Patel announced during a rally here that MLAs should be aware about problems faced by farmers, who get very low MSP on cotton as well as other agri-commodities.
"As per our previous announcement, we have asked our farmers to stage protests outside homes and offices of each of Gujarat's 182 MLAs today. Those who are not covered today, will face our agitation tomorrow," Patel said.
The BKS has intensified its agitation against the state government and has demanded that the MSP on cotton be hiked from Rs 810 per 20 kg to atleast Rs 1,500.
"After the state government announced a relief package of Rs 1,100 crore, a rumour was spread that BKS has withdrawn its agitation. I want to clarify that our protests will go on until farmers don't get a higher MSP," Patel said.
