UP govt responsible for farmers suicide: V P Singh

Hamirpur, Aug 31 (UNI) Former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh today slammed the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government for the ''high rate of farmers' suicide'' during the past three years of its rule.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Singh said since the last five yrs, natural disasters continue to be a cause of worry for the farmers in Bundelkhand region.

But the administration neither provided them relief nor waived loans taken by them.

Owing to the ''plight of villagers,'' Mr Singh would kickstart a movement in Banda and Mahoba district, where the founder of Jan Morcha would meet the family members of farmers, who had committed suicide.

Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav should take a lesson from Tamil Nadu, where farmers' loans had been waived,'' Mr singh said adding that the UP government was playing ''pranks'' with farmers by selling their land to industrialists at high rates and providing them not even half the price of land.

He asserted Jan Morcha was the only party, ''which is principle oriented.'' UNI XC-ATI VD VC1510