"Centre did not fulfil demands of apple farmers": Himachal Congress leader

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 27 (ANI): Ahead of the seventh phase of elections on June 1 in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress and BJP are attacking each other. The issue of apple imports is also becoming important these days. The Congress party is attacking the central government for not increasing the import duty on apples.

The state vice president of the Congress party and the media advisor to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, said in a press conference in Shimla that apples have a huge contribution to the economy of Himachal and about three lakh families are directly connected with it.

"The Modi government did not fulfil the demand of the apple farmers to increase the import duty to 100 per cent. He had promised to increase it to 100 per cent in the elections, which he has not fulfilled in his ten-year tenure," Chauhan said.

"The Congress government has always taken care of the interests of farmers and orchardists and we are continuously working for their development. We have fulfille demands in our 15 months tenure," he added further.

Accusing the BJP of misleading the public, he said, "BJP does not have any issues in these elections and are misleading the public. They are diverting the attention of the public from the main issues. They have cheated every section of the society. Farmers had to do a huge movement to get their demands accepted".

He also said that INDIA alliance government will be formed at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"The people of the country want to bring change in the Union government and this time the INDIA Alliance government will be formed at the Centre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is supporting a few capitalists of the country and giving them benefits only," he added further. (ANI)