Akhilesh Yadav Govt doesn't care about farmers' welfare: BJP

Kanpur, Mar 24: The BJP on Tuesday hit out at Akhilesh Yadav saying that his government doesn't care about farmers' welfare as no SP leader has visited the rain-hit farmers of the state so far.

"25 farmers have died so far. Some have committed suicide and some have died of shock after their crops were destroyed by rain and hailstorm. But, the state government didn't open any paddy procurement centres for the farmers nor any relief was given to the sugarcane farmers," Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai said here.

"We demand Rs 20,000 compensation for the farmers for crops damaged per hector instead of the usual Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,000 relief per hector. Moreover, the government should waive loans and electricity bills of the farmers," he said.

Bajpai said the Rs 200 crore fund allocated by the state government for the calamity-hit farmers is not enough.

"The MLAs should survey their own constituency to assess the extent of damage and then only the real picture of the loss can be understood," he said.

Speaking on the alleged irregularity in the recruitment in state police, Bajpai said that more than 40 per cent of those who have succeeded in the exam are from Etah, Etawah and Mainpuri districts.

Bajpai demanded that the matter should be probed either under the HC's supervision or by SIT or CBI.

Daring the government's stand that anyone who opposes the police recruitment process will be booked under NSA, Bajpai said," I challenge the government to book me under NSA and send me to jail instead of arresting the students."

PTI