New Delhi, September 01: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma today held consultations here with leaders of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) who are demanding that agriculture be kept out of the ambit of WTO talks.
Sharma told the BKU office-bearers, comprising its President Mahender Singh Tikait and others, that he would apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about their apprehensions and promised the leaders a meeting with the PM soon.
The Commerce Minister also assured the farmers that their interests will be protected.
Talking to reporters, AICC Secretary Parvej Hashmi, who attended the meeting, said it is a “misconception” of farmers that agriculture is a part of WTO negotiations.
“The farmers asked for increase in Minimum Support Price and making agriculture remunerative so that the country does not have to import foodgrains and oil from other countries,” Hashmi said.
The meeting of the BKU leaders with the Commerce Minister assumes significance as BKU has considerable presence in several states, including Haryana which is going for assembly elections on October 13.
—Agencies