'Protect interest of arecanut growers'

Karnataka Pradesha Raitha mathy Krishi Karmikara Congress and Jilla Kissan Congress Samithi staged a protest urging the Central government to file an affidavit in the court to prove that arecanut is not harmful to health.

The protesters shouted slogans against the Central government, at Azad Circle. They also expressed dissatisfaction over the statement made by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel in the Lok Sabha that consumption of supari would lead to oral squamous cancer.

KPCC Kissan cell president Sachin Meega said the statement of the union minister has caused confusion among arecanut growers. During the previous Lok Sabha election campaign, Narendra Modi had promised to protect the interest of arecanut growers. But now the government is neglecting the growers.

"Instead of politicising the death of farmers, MP Shobha Karandlaje should look into the problems faced by the arecanut growers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be informed on the problems of the growers," he said. If the Centre fails to file an affidavit favouring the growers within 10 days, the KPCC Kissan unit will stage a hunger strike in front of the house of MP Shobha Karandlaje.

He accused the Prime Minister of neglecting the interest of the farmers. Phasal Bhima Yojana only benefits the insurance company and not the farmers. The loans borrowed by the arecanut growers should be waived off according to recommendations of Gorakh Singh Committee.

KPCC general secretary M L Murthy said that arecanut is cultivated for the last thousand years. Now, even tea is prepared from arecanut. Thousands of farmers are dependent on arecanut for their livelihood.