'Rivals' Paswan, Lalu to address VP's Kisan Rally

Lucknow, May 16 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh today announced to hold a 'Kisan Rally' in the Uttar Pradesh capital on May 30 to highlight ''the plight of farming community.'' Arch rivals and Bihar heavyweights union ministers Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan would address the gathering and perhaps share the Dais, he claimed.

''These issues are significant...in the coming days there will be the association and involvement of like-minded people who are serious and committed to the rights of the poor and the deprived section of society,'' he added.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader A B Bardhan and D Raja, UP culture minister Brijendra Pratap Singh and Rashtriya Kranti Dal's Sakshi Maharaj are also likely to attend the rally.

Mr Singh claimed the proposed rally was being held in an atmosphere ''surrounded by pain, grief and agony'' as the problems of farmers were not being attended to.

While debt is forcing farmers to commit suicide, the government had no time to think about their plight, he regreted.

''Labour force has increased, but there are no job opportunities as government policies have led to unemployment...those dependent on handicrafts industry are forced to starve since the raw material and electricity required for the survival of industry are inadequate,'' he added.

UNI NAB VS YA RN1526