Shimla, May 20 -- As the chorus seeking ban on Turkish apple grows louder, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said he will take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"On May 24, the PM has convened a meeting of all chief ministers. I will speak to him in this regard," Sukhu said while interacting with the media.

He added, "I will also write to the Centre and Modi, seeking a ban on apple imports from Turkey." The apple industry in Himachal, valued around Rs.4,500 crore, is considered backbone of the state's economy.

Congress national spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore on Monday lodged objection to the import of apples, cherries and other items from Turkey and Azerbaijan. He said that the is...