Chouhan seeks PM''s intervention ahead of his hunger strike

Bhopal, Feb 10 (PTI) Two days before his proposed hungerstrike against the Centre, Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan today sought Prime Minister ManmohanSingh''s intervention to sort out issues concerning the state.

In a letter to the Prime Minister that was also releasedto the press, Chouhan has referred to various issues likesupply of coal, allocation of food grains in line with thenumber of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the state,revision of allocation under the Indira Awas Yojana,assistance for recent crop damage among others.

"Madhya Pradesh has suffered severe crop damage in therecent cold wave but our request for special package ofassistance has largely been ignored," the letter said.

"Similarly my repeated requests for reforms inagriculture crop insurance have been met with silence ornegative responses. I have also impressed upon you the needfor reviewing the methodology for fixing the Minimum SupportPrice for agriculture produce, but have received no response,"Chouhan said in the letter.

"You have expressed agreement with my views during ourpersonal discussions but the Ministries concerned do notappear to have acted upon your views and instructions," itsaid.

"It is with a heavy heart, therefore, that I havedecided to undertake "Savinay Aagrah Upwas" from February 13with the hope that this will draw your attention to the needfor action on these critical matters," the letter said. PTILAL ABC