UNPA leaders corner Govt over farmers' issue, court arrest

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), which is trying to consolidate itself as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP for the next Lok Sabha elections, today tried to corner the UPA government over the farmers' issues both inside and outside Parliament as the country's supreme legislature began its budget session.

The leaders, including Alliance chairman Mulayam Singh Yadav, TDP leader Chandra Babu Naidu, INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala and Brinda Goswami of the Asom Gana Parishad, held a demonstration on the Parliament street here and courted arrest.

They were, however, released later in the day.

The leaders joined the dharna after stalling Parliament proceedings over the issue earlier in the day. Addressing the participants they lambasted the UPA government's ''anti-farmer'' policies.

They said the government had no concern for the problems of farmers who were committing suicides in dofferent parts of the country.

They demanded that the Swaminathan Committee report on agriculture be accepted and implemented immediately.

The leaders also wanted the government to waive all agricultural loans of farmers, saying they had become financially bankrupt due to damage of their crops by floods and droughts in different parts of the country.

The UNPA leaders said their fight for farmers' rights would continue and they would intensify their campaign in the coming days.

UNI NAZ SHB HS1927