Hooda slams fertiliser price hike, demands immediate rollback

Chandigarh: Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday accused the BJP govt of burdening farmers by hiking fertiliser prices, saying the Rs 200 increase in urea and SSP rates and Rs 200-550 hike in NPK prices would sharply raise cultivation costs amid rising inflation and input expenses. The leader of opposition said higher prices of farm machinery and spare parts were also adding to farmers' woes.Targeting the BJP over its promise to double farmers' income, Hooda alleged that the govt had instead increased production costs while offering inadequate MSP hikes. He claimed that farmers' incomes had stagnated over the past decade even as debt and inflation continued to rise.The Congress leader also criticised recent increases in fuel and cooking gas prices, stating that a domestic LPG cylinder became costlier by Rs 89 in the last three months. He said rising prices of petrol, diesel, transport and essential commodities had made life difficult for common citizens.Demanding immediate relief, Hooda called on the govt to withdraw the fertiliser and fuel price hikes and pass on the benefits of lower global crude oil prices to consumers. MSID:: 131590219 413 |