No meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee, headed by Industry Minister Suresh Mehta, has been fixed. The panel has been appointed to examine the demand for lifting of restrictions on export of groundnut and oil. At its meeting yesterday, the panel felt there was no need for government intervention ``at this stage''.

In the words of a minister, who is member of the panel, ``The mills are getting groundnut and running; there is no shortage of groundnut oil in the market, nor has its price gone up. So where is the need for government intervention? We will keep a watch and take action if and when it becomes necessary''.

Explaining the government stance, another minister said it had to ``balance the interests of farmers and consumers''. The farmers were getting about Rs 1,500 per quintal - much more than Rs 1,295 recommended by the government to Agricultural Prices Commission, not to talk of the support price of Rs 1,040 per quintal, he said.

The agitation, which will continue for a week, is being spearheaded by Rajkot marketing yard chairman Shamji Khunt and some other farmers' leaders, demanding lifting of the restrictions. Oil millers are also against these restrictions, but have not suspended operations despite farmers' appeal.

The sub-committee includes Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala, Health Minister Ashok Bhat, Agriculture Minister Nitin Patel, Narmada Development Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, Food and Supplies Minister Jaspal Singh, and Roads and Buildings Minister Savjibhai Korat.

Some of the ministers are believed to have a soft corner for the farmers, but they are in a minority. A senior official said the agitation ``makes little sense'' because there was no restrictions on farmers. ``They can sell their produce wherever they like. Can they give a single instance when a farmer was stopped?'' he asked.

He said the restrictions, which were applicable only to millers and traders, included a stock limit and the ``procedural formality'' of intimating the collector before taking groundnut or oil out of the state. ``This is necessary to check tax evasion and keep a watch on how much commodity is going out'', he said.