UNPA will support farmers exempted from loan waiver: Naidu

Hyderabad, Mar 1 (UNI) United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) Convenor and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu today said the UNPA would chalk out a programme to support the farmers, who were not included in the purview of loan waiver.

Addressing a press conference here, he said only because of the pressure exerted by the UNPA and other like-minded parties, the Congress-led UPA government had announced relief to a section of the farmers.

Asked whether the TDP would join hands with the BJP on the issue concerning farmers, he said ''we wanted not only the BJP but also the Congress to focus on the farmers' problems''.

He wondered how Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who had opposed loan waiver, could make a ''U-turn'' and claim credit for the Centre announcing the relief.

Finding fault with the Centre for not providing relief to the farmers, who had paid their dues promptly, he demanded that loans of all farmers should be written off.

The Centre should come to the rescue of farmers, who were forced to end their lives unable to repay loans taken from private money lenders, he said, asserting that his party would wage a relentless struggle in support of the farmers and press for implementation of the M S Swaminathan Committee recomendations and introduction of crop insurance scheme with village as unit for payment of compensation.

Mr Naidu claimed that it was because of the TDP's efforts, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) had recommended Rs 1,000 as Minimum Support Price for paddy.

UNI SM AJ LS HT1932