MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 27: In spite of Governor P C Alexander assurance on Saturday to a delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders that he will bring the plight of cotton growers to the notice of the State Government, the party has decided to launch an agitation against `anti-farmer' policies. A delegation led by former deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde brought to the Governor's notice that payment worth Rs 950 crore has been held up resulting in discontent among the cotton growers. However, Dr Alexander said that as per his information, arrangements were being made for expeditious disbursement of funds. ``The Governor promised them to bring various points raised by the delegation to the notice of the State Government for urgent action,'' an official release said.Later, Munde said due to the dire financial situation at least seven farmers have committed suicide in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions adding that BJP will help the affected families with some funds. Taking the Vilasrao Deshmukh government to task, Munde said though it has declared a guarantee price of Rs 2300 per quintal, but not a single cotton grower either from Vidarbha or Marathwada has been paid by the announced rate. ``I have specific information that instructions have been given to the cotton growers federation staff that high quality cotton should not be procured and that it should be rejected for one or the other reason,'' he said. Referring to the plan to agitate, Munde said his party will take out a morcha in Saoner in Vidarbha district, resort to satyagraha at 340 cotton collection centres, which have been closed, from March 2 and party activists would stage black-flag demonsrations during visits of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and other cabinet members in all districts. Munde alleged that while several cheques issued by the Cotton Growers' Federation could not be realised owing to lack of funds, cheques worth Rs 1000 crore have not be disbursed to the cotton growers. ``We have brought to the notice of the Governor that bouncing of cheques is an offence under the Negotiable Instruments Act and as such we feel that offences should be registered against the drawing and disbursing authority,'' he said. Meanwhile, the cooperation department denied BJP's charge about the farmers' death. A senior official claimed that while Yeotmal resident Sadhu Kumbalkar had received 90 per cent of his dues, Mangalsinh Rathod committed suicide after receiving threats to his life. ``There is absolutely no substance in the charge made by the BJP. A senior official was deputed to verify the cause of death of the seven persons. The official found that the cause of death of the seven persons was different. At least three of them were not cotton growing farmers,'' a senior official said.
