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United News of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Shimla farmers slam Modi Govt for yielding to US pressure on apple imports
Shimla, July 23 (UNI) Hundreds of apple growers and activists on Monday raised strong objections to the eviction of small farmers under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) and the central government's decision to reduce import tariffs on foreign apples under alleged US pressure. The meeting, addressed by former Himachal MLA and AFFI co-convener Rakesh Singha and CPI(M) legislator from Jammu and Kashmir Yusuf Tarigami, criticised the Indian government for 'succumbing to imperial diktats' that threaten the livelihoods of fruit growers in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Tarigami accused the Modi government of bowing before the Trump administration's push to reduce import duties on apples from 50% to as low as 15–30%, calling it 'a betrayal of India's farmers.' He warned that the decision would devastate local markets already suffering from low prices and high production costs. 'This is not just economic pressure; it's part of a larger imperial design to dominate developing nations by destroying their self-reliance,' he said, urging farmers across the country to unite for the nationwide protest scheduled on July 8–9. Rakesh Singha, while highlighting the deepening agricultural crisis, said about 10 lakh families in Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir depend on apple and off-season vegetable farming. 'This sector is under threat not just from imports but also from the systematic eviction of farmers through encroachment drives under the FCA. While developed countries have ravaged their own ecosystems, they now force India to implement laws in the name of conservation that end up dispossessing its poorest cultivators,' he said. Speakers emphasised that these policies are pushing hill farmers—who have long preserved nature through traditional land use—into destitution and are a direct continuation of anti-people, anti-farmer colonial mindsets masked as global cooperation. During the meeting speaker also raised the issue of failing of Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government to press centre to increase import duty on the apple and promise made by Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi and Education Minister Rohit Thakur at Vidhan Sabha Apple growers rally during Budget session at Shimla. "We apple growers are being ignored by Congress and BJP Government at centre as both couldn't keep promises" Convenor of AFFI Sohan Thakur said in the meet. The meeting concluded with a call for mass mobilisation and policy reversal to protect local agriculture and uphold land rights of marginal farmers. UNI ML SSP
India Gazette
17 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Farmers' Unions from hill states announce July 9 protest against possible zero-tariff deal with U.S.
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)[India], June 23(ANI): Farmer unions and apple growers from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand have jointly declared a nationwide strike on July 9 to protest against the possible inclusion of agricultural produce under a zero-tariff framework reportedly being discussed between India and the United States. Concerns among farmers have intensified following reports that the US has set a July 9 deadline for India to accept the proposal. Growers fear that allowing duty-free imports of apples and other commodities would gravely impact local producers in the hill states. At a meeting held in Shimla on Monday, various horticultural organisations from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir came together. They expressed apprehensions that the government's negotiations may compromise the interests of local growers. Former MLA and convener of the Himachal Pradesh Sanyukt Kisan Manch, Rakesh Singha, said that fruit producers from Himachal and the All India Kisan and Mazdoor organisations will participate in the nationwide protest on July 9. Speaking to ANI, Rakesh Singha said, 'The July 9 protest is being supported at the all-India level by farmers and workers' unions. In Himachal Pradesh, fruit growers' unions and the All India Farmers and Producers Federation will also join. Our main demands include protecting farmers from the ongoing efforts to dispossess them of their land, opposing the proposed abolition of import duties, and ensuring a petition is filed in the Himachal Pradesh High Court against land evictions.' He also criticised the Central government for discontinuing the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) in Himachal Pradesh, stating that funds had stopped coming from Delhi. 'This is a battle not just about import duties, but about saving livelihoods. The MIS used to support apple growers but is now defunct because the Centre is not releasing the funds,' Singha added. Voicing similar concerns, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, MLA from the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, said all farmers in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are united on their issues. 'Farmers from Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir are united in this struggle. Fruit growers are already facing challenges in the market. Now, there are reports that the U.S. is pushing for agricultural goods to be brought under zero-duty tariffs. We are demanding an increase in customs duties, not their abolition. This is our own produce, grown through hard labour, and it deserves a fair opportunity in the domestic market,' Tarigami said the issue must be viewed in the larger context of inflation, declining wages, and the deteriorating condition of workers across industries. Tarigami added, 'Whether it's daily wagers or industrial workers, the working class is struggling. Trade unions will also be part of this national strike to demand an increase in minimum wages.' The Apple Federation of India has also called for unity among apple growers in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, stating that the fight for farmers' rights has now become a collective battle that cuts across geographies and regions. Yousuf Tarigami said,' We want our Members of Parliament to raise these issues in the Parliament. From the Prime Minister to every elected representative, they are all answerable to the people. If people are suffering and the Cabinet or Prime Minister ignores these demands, it will be a betrayal of public trust.' Tarigami asserted,'We will knock on every door, from the Prime Minister to Parliament to protect our rights. Our geography and climate may differ slightly, but our pain and struggles are the same. All farmers are united in this cause. This is a fight to save our orchards, our land, and our livelihoods.' The farmers' bodies have resolved to organise mass mobilisations and have appealed to all opposition parties and parliamentarians to intervene immediately in the interest of hill agriculture. (ANI)
United News of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
CPI(M) Marks Vijay Diwas, Calls for Unity Against Neo-Fascism
Shimla, May 9 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) commemorated Vijay Diwas at Kalibari Hall, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 9, 1945, and the victory of the socialist Soviet Union in the Second World War. The event was attended by hundreds of party workers and leaders, including Rakesh Singha, Sanjay Chauhan, Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, and Vijendra Mehra. Addressing the gathering, Comrades Singh LOOPa, Chauhan, and Mehra paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and condemned Hitler's fascist regime. They lauded the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany, terming it a historic moment that safeguarded humanity and paved the way for liberation movements across Asia and Africa. The speakers emphasized that the victory not only crushed imperialist fascism but also empowered workers, strengthened democracy, and advanced gender equality. Warning against the rise of neo-fascist and communal forces in present times, they drew parallels with the past and stressed the need for united democratic resistance. Highlighting the dangers of growing polarization in India, particularly in the name of religion, the CPI(M) leaders urged citizens to uphold national unity and resist divisive politics. The party called for mass participation in the nationwide strike on May 20 and reaffirmed its commitment to the unity of workers and farmers. UNI ML
