Protest over fertiliser price hike

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 11

Activists of the Kisan Majdoor Sangharsh Committee burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while protesting against the hike in the prices of DAP fertiliser by Rs 140 per 50-kg bag.

The protesters said the government had increased the wheat MSP by just Rs 105 whereas it had increased the input cost of the crop by increasing prices of the fertiliser. The activists said they would block rail traffic on October 18 if the hike was not taken back.

Sarwan Singh, general secretary of the association, said, “The hike in the charges of fertiliser will affect farmers. We are also demanding relaxation in moisture norms for paddy crop.” The committee has also demanded that the MSP be announced for Basmati varieties. A minimum of Rs 4,500 for the 1509 variety and Rs 5,000 for 1121 variety has been demanded.