UPA Government insensitive to farmers' needs: Shivraj Singh

Bhopal, June 16 (ANI): Demanding an immediate rollback of the unfair hike in the price of the fertilizers, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the Central Government was insensitive towards the needs of the farmers.

Highlighting the plight of farmers, Chouhan said: "Within the last one year there has been increase in the prices by 121 percent to 200 percent whether it was for DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) or MPK or Potassium. One sack of 50 kilograms of DAP which was priced at 553 rupees in 2010-11, today it is being sold at 672 rupees."

"How will the farmers manage do the cultivation? It will take toll on his life. Earlier, I had written a letter to honourable prime minister and had urged him to roll back the increased prices of fertilizer. But when I did not get any response from, then I thought that there is need to work towards protecting the interest of the farmers and that is why I initiated the 'save farmers campaign'," he added.

Chouhan further said since India is an agriculture driven economy, the government should not put any kind of burden on the farmers.

Meanwhile, local Congress leader P C Sharma lashed out at Chouhan, saying that ' 'instead of shedding crocodile tears he should work for the welfare of the farmers'. (ANI)