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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao stated that although Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had assured that the problems faced by tobacco farmers in the State would be resolved, the prices have not been increased by the cigarette manufacturing companies so far.
He participated in a relay hunger strike by the tobacco farmers near Prakasam Bhavan in Ongole on Wednesday and demanded the State government to implement their words by offering remunerative price not less than ₹20,000 per quintal of tobacco.
The CPI(M) leader said, “Instead of providing subsidies to the corporate companies, the Central and State governments must allocate ₹1,000 crore for the procurement of tobacco from the farmers. Otherwise, the protests will continue across the State.”
Samyuktha Kisan Morcha (SKM) district convener Chunduri Ranga Rao said that the relay hunger strike will continue till June 27. He informed that several people’s and workers’ organisations had extended support to their protest.
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