Farmers sabha against Maya's anti-farmer policies

Lucknow, Aug 8 (UNI) Lambasting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for indulging in ''anti-farmer'' activities, Uttar Pradesh Kisan Sabha (UPKS) today staged a demonstration in front of the Vidhan Sabha here and demanded the UP government to cancel the Ganga Expressway project and waive the farmers' loan.

Thousands of farmers took part in the sabha, under the leadership of UPKS convener Ishwar Prasad Kushwaha, UP CPI (ML) secretary Sudhakar Yadav and UP Khet Mazdoor Sabha president Krishan Adhikari.

Ranting slogans ''karz mafi ki khul gayi pol, bol kisan halla bol.'' the procession marched from Charbagh railway station to Vidhan Sabha.

While addressing the agrigarians congregated here from all part of UP, Mr Kushwaha said the state government is playing a ''dual game'' with the farmers. All the development package announced by the government were fake.

In reality, farmers were not even being provided with basics like seeds and fertilisers for production, he added.

Focussing upon the tall claims of the government about waiving farmers loan, he said the government had only duped the innocent farmers and was responsible for their dismal condition.

Driven by abject poverty, the farmers were committing siuicide, and government had made only fake promises.

He demaded the BSP government to waive off the farmers loan and return farmers land, confiscated for loan payments.

He also asked the UP CM to take stringent action against the money-lenders.

Turning his pointer over the Ganga Expressway project, he said it is this project under which farmers land is being ''forcibly'' taken away.

Terming the project as ''anti-national'', he said the government had confiscated 1,55,293 acre of fertile land and uprooted about 600 villages. Such an act in no way will favour the farmers or the nation and the project should be cancelled.

He said the land conservation law is being altered for vested interests and Mayawati's contract farming proposal was also a step on the same path. He further warned Ms Mayawati of large scale agitation against ''anti-farmers'' activities in the near future.

Talking about the WTO norms, CPI (ML) state president Sudhakar Yadav said the Central government has to come out of the norms and guidelines created by the WTO and guarantee full benefit to the farmers.

There was no option left for the farmers, but to conduct a 'sabha', he said and called the farmers to mark the agitation with nationwide 'jail bharo andolan' on August 20.

CPI (ML) central committeee member and Khet Mazdoor sabha state president Krishan Adhikari critisised the government for not implementing NREGA scheme properly. Even job cards have not been made so far, he asserted.

He further blamed the goverment for the dismal state of the farmers and said the people are dying of starvation, whereas the government is busy swelling their pockets.

UNI PDM RSA BST1606