Political parties ignoring people's issues: Ajit Singh

Kochi, Jul 6: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) President Ajit Singh said the national political parties were clamouring against the Indo-US nuclear deal by ignoring common man's issues like inflation and unemployment in the country.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the party's southern states office here, Mr Singh said ''the parties are after the nuclear issue, which is not going to affect the people in any way.'' ''Even if the UPA government falls on the issue, the deal cannot be stopped and would go through the proper channels of IAEA and the US Congress,'' he opined.

Mr Singh said the national parties were also unconcerned about the problems faced by the farmers and crisis in the agriculture sector.

''The population growth rate was higher than the agriculture growth rate and this would be a serious issue as agriculture was not considered a profitable enterpirse,'' he observed.

Citing a Planning Commission report, Mr Singh said over 50 per cent farmers did not want to continue their profession, as it was ''not viable.'' Mr Singh criticised the Centre's wheat procurement system ''whereby Rs 600 per quintal was paid to domestic farmers as against Rs 1,600 per quintal for wheat imported from Australia.'' Touching on Kerala politics, Mr Singh said there was scope for 'Third Front' in the state, as people had no choice other than the Left dominated Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

''Third Front was needed to jolt the present Fronts to take up people's issues and provide a better administration,'' he noted.

Mr Singh also hoped that his party, which stood for the interests of the farmers and agricultural sector, would grow under the present leadership in the state.

UNI