Dear Jose K Mani, did you lie about 'promises' made by centre?

Nirmala Sitaraman denied all the claims made by Jose K Mani
Dear Jose K Mani, did you lie about 'promises' made by centre?
Dear Jose K Mani, did you lie about 'promises' made by centre?
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On Tuesday, almost all vernacular dailies in Kerala prominently carried MP Jose K Mani’s achievements and how be convinced the central government to look into the revival of rubber plantations and regulate prices in Kerala.

Jose K Mani had begun an indefinite hunger strike on January 18 at Kottayam seeking revival of the crisis-ridden rubber sector. On January 24 he was arrested and shifted to a hospital.

After a meeting with Union Commerce and Industries Minister Niramala Sitaraman on Monday, Jose K Mani claimed in a press meet in Delhi that the minister had assured to extend the ban on rubber import to one year. He also said that the minister has promised to recommend to the Finance Ministry to allocate Rs 500 crore to Kerala to revive the rubber market and ensure support price of Rs 200 per kg to save rubber farmers.

But in a fresh twist on Tuesday, Nirmala Sitaraman denied all the claims made by Jose K Mani and said she had simply listened to the complaints made by the MP and had not promised anything.

“The import ban is till March and if problems still exist, we will reconsider it. I have not promised anything to anybody,” she told media in Delhi.

She also reportedly said that Jose K Mani was not the first person to approach her with these demands, but many BJP leaders and other MPs have also approached her seeking revival to rubber market in Kerala.

The minister also said that detailed discussion was needed before taking decisions.

Jose K Mani’s claims

Commerce and Industries Minister will recommend the Finance department to allot Rs 500 to Kerala.

The rubber import ban will be extended to one year.

Minister promised that rubber import will be limited only through one port or through insignificant ports.

Though his hunger strike could not get much media attention, Kerala Congress (Mani group) claimed that the agitation had got the centre's attention.

Well, we hope so for the sake of farmers who are pining their hopes on politicians.

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