LSP workers court arrest in MP capital

Bhopal, Nov 27 (UNI) Loktantrik Samajwadi Party workers, led by their President Raghu Thakur, today staged a demonstration and courted arrest here in support of drought-affected Madhya Pradesh farmers' eight-point charter of demands.

Peasants bearing empty vessels and glasses courted arrest in front of Neelam Park. Earlier, ryots from various areas of the state gathered at Yaadgar-i-Shahjahani Park and took out a procession that traversed different routes and then assembled at Neelam Park.

Prior to being arrested, Mr Thakur alleged, ''despite most districts being drought-affected, the government is taking no action. Forcible loan recovery is taking place and inflated power bills issued.'' The chief demands included compensation for loss to the soybean crop, waiving of drought-hit cultivators' debt, power bills and Rs 1 lakh ex gratia each to families of debt-ridden farmers who committed suicide.

UNI