AIKS Press Note, June 28, 2013

28th June 2013

All India Kisan Sabha strongly condemns the decision of the Congress-led UPA Government to indiscriminately double the natural gas prices from $4.2 mbtu to $8.4 mbtu with effect from 1st April, 2014. This move will lead to all round price rise and especially to a hike in fertiliser prices, power tariffs and also transportation costs. The move also reeks of corrupt intention as the Government has merely acceded to the demands of the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited and other big players.

Under a decontrolled regime the move will be a pretext for the fertiliser companies to further hike the already exorbitantly priced fertiliser prices. Further, the increases in power tariffs will also hamper irrigational activities. Given that the Government fixed Minimum Support Prices do not meet even the costs of production for most crops these increases and hike in transportation costs will destroy livelihoods of millions of farmers. AIKS demands that this anti-people decision be revoked immediately.

It is notable here that on the same day the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs which took this decision has also decided to make a meagre hike of only Rs.60/Qtl in MSP of paddy. It has retained the MSP of jowar and urad without any increase at last year’s level and made very meagre increases in MSP of bajra, moong and arhar. None of the MSP announced reflects the increased costs of production or the expectations of the farmers. The MSP announced are unfair and unremunerative and will act as a disincentive to farmers.

This Government is doling out free gifts to the companies like Reliance and promoting unbridled profiteering while simultaneously putting the lives of the farmers in peril. AIKS calls upon its units to expose the pro-corporate, anti-people Congress-led UPA and launch massive protests against this move.

Sd/-

S.Ramachandran Pillai, Presiden

K.Varadha Rajan, General Secretary