Press Releases Archive

FIFA to fight for remunerative prices for commercial crops: Dr.JP

The Federation of Independent Farmers' Associations has constituted a committee to go into the causes for the crash in the prices of commercial crops in Andhra Pradesh and submit a report to the State Government seeking remedial measures.

Announcing this in a media statement, Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, President of the Lok Satta Party and Federation of Independent Farmers' Associations (FIFA), pointed out that the prices of commercial crops like cotton, chilli and turmeric have been plummeting even as costs of production have been spiraling year after year and causing much distress among farmers. What is tragic is that consumers are paying through their nose for the produce even farmers are not getting the cost of production, leave alone remunerative prices.

The price of cotton slumped to Rs.3000-Rs.3500 in 2011-12 from Rs.4000-Rs.8000 a quintal, of chilli to Rs.4000-Rs.6000 from Rs.6000-Rs.9000 and of turmeric to Rs.3000-Rs.5000 from Rs.15000.

Yet, Dr. JP said, the Government has not directed Markfed to undertake price support operations and go to the rescue of the farmers in distress. The failure of the Government to make available sufficient storage space and ensure adequate loans is placing farmers at the mercy of traders.

The committee will go round the State, study the situation at the ground level and submit a report to the Government. It will ascertain farmers' problems in production and marketing, bankers' problems in grant of crop and pledge loans and the availability of storage space.

FIFA leader P. Bhaskara Rao is the convener of the committee comprising Messrs Yerneni Nagendranath (Krishna), B. Dasaradharami Reddy (Kurnool), Hanumantha Reddy (Medak), Narsimha Naidu (Nizamabad), S. Raghavulu (Khammam), D. L. Narayana (Kadapa) and Mekala Lakshminarayana (Guntur).

Dr. JP said that if the Government does not respond to the committee report, FIFA would launch an agitation to safeguard farmers' interests.

Thursday, October 18, 2012 - 18:39

Dr. JP Visiting Krishna, Guntur dts. on Friday

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan is visiting Krishna and Guntur districts on Friday, October 19.

At 10-00 a.m., Dr. JP will commission the RO (reverse osmosis) plant at Matlam village in Kruttivennu mandal of Krishna district. The plant to supply protected drinking water has been installed with assistance from Lok Satta NRI volunteers.

It may be recalled that Ms. Tirumanu Seshamma of the Lok Satta Patry trounced her Telugu Desam opponent backed by the Congress in a panchayat ward by-election without distributing money and liquor.

At 6-00 p.m., Dr. JP will present awards to best teachers at a program being organized by the K. V. R. Educational Trust.

Thursday, October 18, 2012 - 16:16

Lok Satta wants PM to intervene and end unhealthy controversies

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today demanded that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh intervene immediately and put an end to the drift in governance and damage to the country’s credibility in the wake of the controversy over Mr. Robert Vadra-DLF land deals and the allegations against a trust being run by Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife. The controversies are not in the interest of either the country or the economy, he added.

In a media statement, Dr. JP suggested that the Prime Minister order a credible and independent inquiry into the two issues and put an end to name calling, abuse and invective being indulged in by all the concerned. The Haryana Government should simultaneously institute a credible inquiry into the property deals.

On Mr. Salman Khurshid’s threat to India Against Corruption leader Arvind Kejriwal, Dr. JP said that Ministers should realize they represent the entire country and not their party or themselves. Their utterances should be in tune with the oath they take under which they should function without fear or favor and ill will or prejudice. Instead of reacting in a calm, reassuring, mature and balanced manner, Ministers and spokespersons of the Government are resorting to threats and invective and indulging in harsh and crude language. They are shooting themselves in the foot. Their utterances are not only morally wrong but are also undermining the authority of the Government.

Dr. JP said that all of us including civil society, political parties and media should exercise restraint and ensure that wrong doers are punished after due process of law. Kangaroo courts and snap judgments should give way to a calm, balanced and sober discussion based on evidence and logic. We must de-emphasize individuals and focus on the broader political and governance crisis undermining the country.

Dr. JP said: “In a sensible democracy, a party should be above individuals and the nation above political parties. Sadly now, we have put individuals above political parties and parties above the nation.”

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 - 19:55

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