Private companies skip HP government panel meet, SKM calls to intensify stir

Among the absentees were representatives of 10 apple procurement companies, including Adani Agri Fresh Limited

Representatives of major corporate houses skipped the first meeting of the committee constituted by the Himachal Pradesh government under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, to fix the apple procurement prices.

A meeting held in Shimla on Tuesday was attended by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha convener Harish Chauhan and co-convener Sanjay Chauhan, who said that four members of the committee, including two horticulturists, one expert and the managing director of HPMC, were also absent. (ANI image for representational purpose only)

The meeting held in Shimla on Tuesday was attended by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) convener Harish Chauhan and co-convener Sanjay Chauhan. They said that four members of the committee, including two horticulturists, one expert and the managing director of HPMC, were also absent while some people who were not in the panel were present.

Among the absentees were representatives of 10 apple procurement companies, including Adani Agri Fresh Limited.

The committee discussed the pact signed between the private companies and government in the terms fixed at the time of its formation. The farmers’ representatives stressed on finding a solution by removing the flaws and errors in the terms and conditions specified in the MoU.

“However, committee officials did not produce the MoU and it was strange that the member secretary said that no such pact has been signed,” said Harish. “We have expressed apprehension that if the government has not signed any MoU with these companies, then how it has given subsidy worth crores to set up CA stores,” he added.

SKM representatives then boycotted the meeting alleging that the government was not serious to resolve the issues of farmers.

Former Shimla mayor and a non-official member of the committee said that the SKM urges the chairman of the committee that the meeting should be held in strict compliance with the terms and conditions fixed by the government and the MoU should be placed in the meeting.

“Also, we took up the matter of Adani Agri Fresh Ltd and other companies fixing the apple procurement prices even before the meeting of the committee, which is a sheer violation of the government notification,” Harish said. Skipping the meeting by private companies is also a violation of the government order and strict action must be taken against them, he added.

Harish said that the SKM will go ahead with the protest demonstration outside Adani stores in HP on August 25. “The committee’s meeting was not in accordance with terms and conditions set by the government and it appears that the government has just formed the panel for formality’s sake and was just an eyewash,” he added.

“It also reflects that the government was working under pressure from Adani and other companies and betraying lakhs of the farmers of the state,” he said.

He said the farmers of the state will continue their movement and further intensify the stir if their demands are not met.

SKM urges all farmers and orchardists to actively participate in this movement for their demands and to save their livelihood, he added.