BJP demands probe into ‘infected’ apple plants

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 22

State BJP Kisan Morcha, led by former Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta, president of the morcha Baldev Bhandari , party vice-president Ganesh Dutt and other leaders today submitted a memorandum to Governor Acharya Devvrat demanding a high-level enquiry into the import of “virus-infected” apple plants from Italy as well as attracting his attention to the failure of the Congress to fulfil the promises made to horticulturists during the last Assembly poll.

The memorandum urged the Governor to order a high-level inquiry into the import of “virus-infected” plants from Italy, threatening the Rs 4,000-crore apple industry and also order a probe into why the plants were imported from Italy when several other countries, including the US, Canada and Switzerland, were producing better quality root-stocks.

The memorandum also listed ten promises made by the Congress during 2012 polls and said that none of the promise had been implemented.

Meanwhile, the Kisan Morcha today accused the state government of not making full use of the schemes and programmes launched by the Central Government for farmers. The meeting of the state office-bearers of the morcha held here today decided to hold a three-day training camp in March in Sirmaur district.

Baldev Bhandari said it was informed during the meeting that the task of appointing five “Kissan Prahari” at every polling booth had been completed in 75 per cent booths and the remaining booths would be covered by March 5.