Farmers will be top priority if BJP comes to power: Advani

Bhandara, Maharashtra, May 3 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior BJP leader L K Advani today said the interests of farmers would be the top priority for the party, if it came to power at the Centre.

Addressing a massive rally of paddy growers here, Mr Advani said the BJP government would take care of farmers in the entire country.

''If voted to power, we will take care of farmers, whether anywhere in India, or in Maharashtra or in Vidarbha,'' he said.

Lashing out at the government for ignoring the interests of farmers, Mr Advani said the inflation was also affecting farmers since they were also consumers. It was unfortunate that the income of the top 20 billionaires in the country was equal to the income of 30 crore Indians in the country, he said.

The Maharashtra government must accept the demand of farmers for a support price of Rs 1,200 per quintal for paddy. The incumbent state government had failed to keep its promise of free power to farmers, the BJP leader said, adding, ''Leave alone power, there is no power at all for hours at a stretch in the state.'' MORE UNI AB SSS BDP KP2240