Farmers worst sufferers during BJP govt: Akhileesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday that farmers are the worst sufferers during the BJP government in the state as their economic condition has gone from bad to worse in the last four years.

Yadav alleged that the condition of farmers has worsened the most in the state under the present BJP government. The SP chief said the main cause for the breakdown of the agriculture economy is the three farming laws introduced by the BJP government at the Centre.

Attacking the BJP government over farm laws, Akhilesh Yadav said: “There is a big movement of farmers against these new farm laws. Even after over six months, the anger of the farmer has not subsided. The unity of farmers will shatter the arrogance of the BJP. The farmers did not get remunerative prices for their crops during the BJP government.”

“The BJP government’s promise of doubling the income of the farmers has proved to be damp squib and a tool to attract the votes of farmers. To mislead the farmers, the BJP government made tall promises about the minimum support price while the fact is that the farmers have been forced to make distress sale of their produce. The MSP of wheat at Rs 1,975 per quintal continues to be available only in advertisements whereas in reality, the farmers have to sell wheat to middlemen at throwaway prices,” Yadav alleged.

He said the sugarcane farmers have had a similar fate. “Sugarcane farmers are badly hit in the state. Even in the crushing season, their produce has not been procured. Even today, sugar mills owe farmers more than Rs 20,000 crore. There is also a provision of interest on the arrears, but when the principal is not being received, interest is a far cry,” he added.

The SP chief alleged that the farmers have been cheated by the government as the weight of the fertiliser bag has been reduced while the prices have been increased. He said the farmers have also been hit by the galloping increase in the price of diesel.

He said the farmer’s welfare schemes are visible only in the publicity material of the government while nothing reaches the ground. He added that the farmers are fed up with these tricks of the BJP and they have resolved to give a befitting reply to it in the 2022 assembly elections.