Opposition walk out as Govt suggests selling co-op sugar mills

Lucknow, June 28 (UNI) Most members of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly today walked out of the proceedings as the Bahujan Samaj Party government suggested selling sugar mills in the co-operative sector.

Opposition leaders including BJP legislature party leader Om Prakash Singh and Samajwadi Party's Naresh Agarwal raised the issue of non-payment to sugarcane farmers during Zero Hour.

In his reply, state Sugarcane development minister Nasimuddin Siddique said 80 per cent of the payments have been made to the farmers. ''Sugar mills have been given time till August 31 to complete the payment process...an interest of 14 per cent will be charged if the mills delay payment,'' he said.

Mr Siddigue claimed that recovery certificates (RCs) have been issued against Shermau, Nawab Ganj and Garhwara sugar mills.

It was when the minister suggested plans to sell sugar mills under the co-operative sector, that the members of BJP and SP staged a walk out.

UNI