YS Jagan assures support to tobacco farmers hit by heavy central taxes

Tadepalli, Jan 29: Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy met Virginia tobacco farmers from Jangareddygudem mandal of Chintalapudi Assembly constituency, Eluru district, at the YSRCP central office.
The farmers said the Central government’s steep hike in excise duty and GST on Virginia tobacco and cigarettes has sharply reduced demand, pushed down prices, cut procurement and severely affected their livelihoods. They said farmers across several districts are already protesting and urging the Centre to roll back the taxes. They submitted a representation to YS Jagan outlining their crisis.
YS Jagan assured them that YSRCP will take the issue to the Central government and that the party’s MPs will raise it in the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, pledging full support to tobacco farmers facing financial distress.