Centre twin-blows on farmers by banning rice exports: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) The BJP today condemned the Centre's decision to ban export of non-Basmati rice after denying parity for rice growers in terms of offering Minimum Support Price, like it had done in the case of wheat growers.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the government had dealt twin-blows to the rice growers by withdrawing certain varieties of rice like Pusa 1121, RH 10, Muchal, Sarbati, Narela, Kuruskhetra, Shabnam, Pehowa, Karnal, hitherto considered as Basmati.

The ban does not allow even confirmed export orders worth Rs 200 crore. This would force the farmers to resort to distress sale, Mr Javadekar said.

Once the vested interests corner the rice from the hands of the farmers, the government will remove the ban and help them mop up profits, he alleged.

He said the government was already biased against the paddy growers and the UPA had exhibited its anti-farmer face by displacing them from their lands and permitting foreign investors to buy agricultural land, he alleged.

The BJP, he said, would support the protest demonstrations organised by rice farmers at Mahem in Haryana.

UNI