Ahmedabad: Arvind Kejriwal’s rally to be held in Chotila, Gujarat was cancelled due to heavy rains. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) informed that the new date of the rally will be announced soon. Party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was to address a huge public meeting of cotton farmers in Chotila, Gujarat today on Sunday.
Kejriwal has come to Gujarat to raise his voice in the interest of cotton farmers and against the decision of the central government to remove 11 percent import duty on American cotton. During this, the former CM addressed the media.
Import duty removed
In his address, he said, “From August 19, the Modi government at the Center has removed 11 percent (import) duty. Now the cotton imported from America will be 15 to 20 rupees per kilogram cheaper than the cotton produced by Indian farmers… Where will the farmers of our country repay their loans?…”
Farmers will get less money
He said, “In 2013, cotton farmers of Gujarat used to get around Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,700 per quintal for their cotton. At that time, before the 2014 elections, Prime Minister Modi had said that this is very less and it should be Rs 2500… With the arrival of American cotton, they will get less than Rs 900 for their cotton…”
There will be no one to buy cotton
When our farmers go to the market to collect their cotton, there will be no one to buy it. Textile companies have already started importing cotton from America on a large scale. The central government had earlier removed this duty for 40 days, now it has been extended till 31 December. Now there is no chance of the cotton of the country’s farmers being sold.
Now our farmers’ cotton will not be sold because American cotton will be cheaper. Our farmer who has taken a loan for cotton farming, where will he go, how will he repay the loan. He will have no option but to commit suicide.
