Gonikoppa: The local Block Congress Committee led a protest of the pepper growers and associate organisations against the decision taken by the Agricultural Producers Marketing Cooperative Management Committee Board allowing imports from Vietnam.
The protestors alleged that imports were detrimental to the interest of local growers and alleged the involvement of a member of parliament and an MLA in the deal.
Block Congress members led by Shivu Madappa took out a rally from Kodava Samaja and picketed the APMC offices.
Nominated APMC members Kademada Kusuma Joyappa, Ajjikuttira Naren Cariappa and Malettira Bopanna had brought to light the clandestine deal of importing pepper from Vietnam at Rs 223 per kg and mixing the same with local high quality pepper and exporting the consignment.
The role of BJP’s elected representatives is exposed in the deal, alleged protestors and said their decisions had turned detrimental to the local growers’ community. The APMC market operations are in the stranglehold of BJP members and all the growers are united to expose their misdeeds, they said.
The imports are resulting in losses for local growers as well as damaging the brand image of high quality product grown in the district, they alleged.
They demanded the resignation of MP Pratap Simha and MLA K G Bopaiah and said a delegation would meet the state chief minister to demand action against APMC authorities for the irregularities committed.
Suspecting BJP’s direct involvement, Congress MLC Veena Achiah accused them of back stabbing pepper growers and insisted that they should support the local growers setting aside their selfish interests and admit their misdeeds.
Forest Development Board Chairperson Padmini Ponnappa also demanded the resignation of BJP’s elected representatives.
Vietnamese imports must be halted with immediate effect and the consignment lying in the APMC godowns seized , demanded protestors.
Former MLC Arun Machaiah, Block congress President Dharmaja Uthappa, several local elected representatives of the Congress, members from the growers’ community, affiliated organisations and others took part.
