Face2News/Chandigarh
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has strongly criticised the central government’s decision to reduce import duty on New Zealand apples from 50 per cent to 25 per cent under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He said that the decision is a “direct betrayal” of apple farmers and this policy is completely against the slogan of Swadeshi.
Speaker Sandhwan said that these steps of the central government are reminiscent of the East India Company, where foreign commercial interests were given priority by weakening indigenous producers. He said that such policies pose a serious threat to the country’s apple-based economy of about Rs 5,000 crore.
He stressed that the livelihood of lakhs of farmer families dependent on horticulture will be affected by this decision. The Speaker alleged that the Central Government has failed to fulfill its promises to protect domestic producers.
Sandhwan appealed to the Central Government to immediately reconsider this decision and ensure protection of the interests of the country's farmers, especially those involved in horticulture.