Date:21/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/21/stories/2007112151930300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

MSP: parties to mount pressure on government

Staff Reporter

To observe State-wide bandh today

Kakinada: Political parties in East Godavari district are prepared to mount pressure on the State Government to secure minimum support price of Rs. 1,000 for paddy, during the State-wide bandh tomorrow (November 21).

The parties have called upon the government to negotiate with the Central Government and get the MSP sanctioned for paddy and remunerative prices for other crops.

Demonstrations

All the Opposition parties will be staging demonstrations in protest against the government’s alleged negligence in ensuring MSP for paddy, the lack of which has been the main worry of farmers for a long time.

The bandh was called by the all-party forum constituting the TDP, BJP and Left parties.

The political atmosphere has already got surcharged with the BJP president Rajnath Singh’s visit to the district today.

Necessary security arrangements are made by the police to prevent any untoward incident during tomorrow’s agitations.

Police pickets have been posted at important public places as a precautionary measure.