UNPA to intensify stir for paddy growers:TDP Chief

Hyderabad, Dec 3 (UNI) Asserting the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other constituents of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) will intensify the stir in support of paddy growers, TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu today challenged the ruling Congress leaders to join them if they were really committed to the demand for hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy to Rs 1,000 per quintal.

Addressing the TDP State Farmers Wing State Committee here, Mr Naidu said a signature campaign would be undertaken shortly in support of the farmers and to draw the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the plight of the peasants.

The State Congress leaders were not taking up the cause of paddy growers as they wanted to 'cling on to power', he alleged.

Thanking the farmers for making the Vijayawada Rytu Garjana(Ryots Roar) a ''grand success,'' he said ''this is only a beginning. A series of meetings will be held in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Haryana among other states till justice is rendered to ryots.'' National level seminars would be organised to bring to centrestage of national politics to the agrarian crisis, he said, faulting the UPA government for its alleged failure to ensure the fruits of economic development reached the the poor.

UNI