RLD threatens to stop arrival of imported wheat on Indian ports

Lucknow, Apr 16 (UNI) Upping its ante against the import of wheat, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) today announced that it would stop the arrival of imported wheat at all ports across the country.

Talking to UNI here, RLD chief and former union agriculture minister Ajit Singh said the UPA government's decision to import wheat will jeopardise the interests of the farmers in the country, who were ready with sizeable wheat produce this season.

''It is hard to understand why the UPA government on the pretext of eliminating the scarcity of the staple foodgrain in Kerala, is importing it when fresh wheat produce is ready in the country itself,'' Mr Singh added.

The leader of the party, which is a key constituent of the ruling coalition in Uttar Pradesh, further said, ''Who will tell the UPA government that wheat from outside the country will not only be expensive, but will take more time to reach Kerala, while that from other Indian states will not only be qualitative and economical, but also take less time to reach the southern state.'' ''The RLD will not tolerate the ''suicidal'' move by the UPA government and will ensure that not even a minuscule of the imported wheat arrives at any of the ports in the country,'' he said.

Demanding hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat, the son of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh said while the cost of per hectare wheat production has risen by over Rs 38, the MSP for the same crop had only been increased by Rs 10, which in itself was piffling.

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