SWABI, Aug 18: Tobacco growers have warned that they would revert to growing poppy to protest the exploitative policies of tobacco purchasing companies and small cigarette manufacturers.

They issued this warning during a protest demonstration in Karnal Sher Khan Chowk here on Monday.

They slammed the federal and provincial governments, saying if they did not take remedial steps and end the exploitative policies of tobacco purchasing companies and small cigarette manufacturers, they would revert to growing the banned poppy crop.

The protesters, upon reaching the Karnal Sher Khan Chowk blocked all roads for vehicular traffic.

MPA Dr Salim, MNA Mohammad Usman and leaders of Anjuman-i-Kashtkaran addressed the gathering.

The growers had planned to torch their tobacco produce in front of the LTC and PTC offices but the local administration prevented them from doing so. Police personnel had been deployed at the tobacco company offices to keep the protesters from reaching there. All the tobacco purchasing centres remained closed.

The protesters criticized the LTC and the PTC for giving undue importance to tobacco dealers and ignoring the genuine growers.

They carried black flags and shouted slogans against tobacco companies.

They rejected the imposition of Cess Development Tax (CDT) and demanded that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government withdraw it because its whole burden had been transferred to the growers and provided an opportunity to the companies to further lower tobacco purchase prices.

They also rejected the new grading system which they said would pave the way for more exploitation by the com-panies. They demanded res-toration of the old grading system.

Meanwhile, officials of the tobacco companies held a separate meeting with the local administration and some parliamentarians, and assured them that they will purchase all tobacco from the growers. The purchase of surplus tobacco would begin on Aug 26.