Slamming the opposition BJP for making unwarranted hue and cry over the Delhi high court verdict for gaining cheap popularity, the Congress on Wednesday said it was only the Congress government that had raised the unlawful deduction of 6% commission from growers by arthiyas of Delhi in mid-90s.
The party leaders said the BJP should realise that Virbhdra Singh government was constantly taking up the issue with union as well as Delhi government concerning the deduction of 6 % commission form apple and vegetables growers.
Meanwhile, managing director of Himachal Agriculture and Marketing Board H.S. Baweja said that board authorities had filed the case against the amendment of Delhi Agriculture and Marketing board in the court that had finally provided a big relief not only to Himachali farmers but also the growers across the country, visiting Delhi bases Subzi mandies to sell their produce.
Congress spokesman Ajay Singh Chauhan along with general secretary Sardar Singh Thakur, Arun Sharma, Mohan Mehta and Aamlendu Tripahti said that Tuesday's statement of former BJP minister Narender Bargta was completely a bundle of lie, solely aimed at gaining cheap popularity in the eyes of masses.
They said that BJP leaders should remember that principal secretary development had written a letter to union ministry of agriculture in the month of June urging to take up the issue concerning the deduction of commission. Besides the issue was also being taken up by Council of State Agricultural Marketing board with both union and Delhi government as none of the state had accorded any permission to the commission agents in their respective states to deduct the commission form farmers.
{{/usCountry}}They said that BJP leaders should remember that principal secretary development had written a letter to union ministry of agriculture in the month of June urging to take up the issue concerning the deduction of commission. Besides the issue was also being taken up by Council of State Agricultural Marketing board with both union and Delhi government as none of the state had accorded any permission to the commission agents in their respective states to deduct the commission form farmers.
{{/usCountry}}Criticising former minister for making false claims over the taking up of the issue with government as well as before the court during BJP's regime in 2008, congress leaders said that it was only Virbhadra Singh who had raised his voice against the unlawful practice of arthiyas in mid nineties. Since then, congress was continuously chasing the issue and the strong efforts of officials of Himachal Marketing Board in pursuing the case effectively before the court had given a big relief to the growers of the country.
Board's managing director HS Baweja said that the Delhi government under the provisions of section 61 of Delhi Agricultural Produce marketing Developmental Act 1998 has made the provisions that 6 % commission would only be deducted from purchasers, however it was later amended on September 28, 2010 that the commission in question would be deducted by the arthiyas from the farmers and sellers.
After this, amendment of Delhi marketing board was challenged by HP marketing board before the court. Besides, the strict instructions of chief minister and agriculture minister and sincere efforts of board officials in pursuing the case and failure of Delhi board in filing the reply has provided a relief to Himahcali growers and farmers.