Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Incharge organization Rajneesh Kimta addressed a press conference taking a dig at Himachal government saying, The apple season is in full swing but the government of Himachal seems least bothered. Due to the monsoon, there are a lot of places especially in rural areas (small link roads )where landslides are taking place and trucks loaded with Apple cartons have to wait for long on roads due to which the apple farmers are facing heavy losses.
Almost 3 lakh families which further multiplies to expectedly 15 lakh people of the state are horticulturists and produce apples and are dependent on it for their living. The state government had promised compensation to affected people due to the snow disaster earlier this year which amounted to total losses of more than 200 crore but nothing has been done with regard to it and it also appears to be an add to the list of jumlas by the state government. He said that the central government has decreased the import duties from 55 percent to 20 percent, which is directly affecting the sale of Indian apples, ruining the entire hard work of farmers by indirectly attacking the livelihood of our farmers. Both governments in centre as well as state are anti farmers. Kimta said that the input on maintaining apple orchards are tirelessly increasing day by day and the government has stopped the subsidies on fertiliser which is a defective move by government. Adding to it Kimta has said that moreover, the increase in 60 percent to 300 percent rates of fertilisers and insecticides is an addition of burden to our horticulturists & farmers. The immense increases of more than 35 percent in rates of trays and cartons have jolted the apple producers, despite of the fact that the minister for horticulture had assured the people of the state for no rise in rates of it. He questioned the state government saying , for what reason the World Bank Funds for Horticulture has been decreased from 1170 crores to 600 crores, despite the fact that the major population is horticulturists and the money could be a helping hand with facet to new development in the field of horticulture development.
Rajneesh Kimta has censured the decision of removing the Chief Secretary of Himachal Mr. Anil Khachi by State government saying, it is very disheartening for every Himachali especially rural Pahari as, in peer pressure of One of the senior cabinet ministers chief secretary was removed. it is a rare matter that somebody from Himachal gets the chance to be at the zenith bureaucratic post of state. Strongly condemning this decision of Himachal Government Kimta said, The government will have to face its repercussions in coming elections
Kimta Congratulated the Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra for his fantabulous performance making the entire country proud. He showed concern for the youth of Himachal as in past 4 years of BJP led Himachal government, there is not a single initiative which was taken up by this government in field of sports for upliftment and rise in sports activities, opening up sports academy. Giving boast to sports and encouragement of young lads could save the future of diligent youths of state from indulging in drugs. Now that the Sports minister also hails from Himachal, Kimta has asked the state government to initiate and be more focused on uplifting of sports in state.
Concerned about the COVID-19 situation in state and rise in cases, Kimta said that the state government is again taking this up lightly and the preparedness for 3rd wave is not up to the mark . Kimta said, Himachal is topping the list of increase percentage of cases per week with a whooping increase of 64 % which is alarming and shows the seriousness of this BJP led HP government pertaining COVID
General Secretary Rajneesh Kimta was accompanied by State Media Coordinator I.N Mehta, Spokesperson Pradeep Verma, Abhishek Rana, Aman Sethi, Kushal jethi and State Media Panelist’s Monita Chauhan and Saurav Chauhan.
