Farmers from the district are all set to file nominations from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking re-election, to highlight their demands of minimum support price for turmeric and the establishment of turmeric board in the State.
“Over 50 farmers from the district will leave for Varanasi either on Wednesday or on Thursday. We are filing nominations only from Varanasi and not from Amethi from where AICC president Rahul Gandhi is contesting the elections. If we file nominations from Amethi, we should also do so from Wayanad where Mr. Gandhi has filed his nomination,” said Patkuri Tirupathi Reddy, district president of Turmeric Farmers’ Association.
Talking to The Hindu on Tuesday, he clarified that their move was not prompted by anyone, and it was solely the farmers’ decision to draw Centre’s attention to their problems. At least 50 turmeric farmers from Nizamabad and 70 from Tamil Nadu are likely to file nominations from Varanasi.
“We will not campaign against anyone in Varanasi constituency. We just want our problems to be highlighted at the national level,” he said, denying reports that Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha had encouraged them.
