JD(U) urges Centre to declare Bundelkhand as drought affected area

New Delhi, Jan 30 (UNI) The Janata Dal (United) today urged the Centre to immediately declare Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh as drought prone area and provide the necessary support to help the people in the region to overcome the period of crisis.

Addressing newspersons, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav here said it is the moral duty of UP Chief Minister Mayawati to provide the basics like food to the millions of starving people of that region and save their precious lives, as the people were dying on account of acute starvation.

Mr Yadav said in view of this draught, several farmers have died but so far no relief has come from the state government or the Centre, he added.

He regretted that while the UP Chief Minister has categorically denied any report of starvation deaths from that region, three farmers have died due to starvation yesterday.

Mr Yadav said uptill now 65 farmers have died at Hamirpur, 40 at Mohaba, 15 each at Chitrakoot and Jallore, seven in Lalitpur and six in Jhanshi.

He regretted that UP Chief Minister Mayawati has no time to take up the issues of poor farmers of her state as she is busy in one state or the other in a bid to prepare herself as the next Prime Ministerial candidate of the country.

UNI/BKS RSA AS1703