AIKS to launch country-wide srike on wheat import

Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, May 3 (UNI) The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) today said it would launch country-wide agitation if the Congres-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government allowed import of wheat in the country.

According to AIKS vice-president Kolli Nageswara Rao, the date of the agitation will be decided in a week's time after seeing the government's stance on the issue. He urged the wheat growers to fight for their rights because the Centre's decision to import wheat would harm their interests.

The farmers grow wheat in over 3,064 lakh acres and produce 708 lakh tonnes per year, but they are facing severe hardships including non-availability of Minimum Support Price (MSP)' he added. Mr Rao ' who is also the President of the CPI-affiliated Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sanham (APRS) criticisd the government of implimenting the conditions of the World Trade Orgnisation (WTO) even as the farmers are asking for MSP.

The WTO had insisted on export of a minimum of four per cent of wheat to every country from the annual production of the respective nation, he added.

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