Akhilesh, Amit Shah in blame game over farmers' relief in UP

Lucknow/Hathras (UP), May 15: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and BJP chief Amit Shah were today locked in a blame game over doling out relief for farmers suffering crop losses in the state.

Yadav even went on to say that BJP is the most 'chalu' (shrewd) party while Shah accused the UP government of only indulging in "bhashan baji" (making speeches).

Yadav accused the Modi government of not doing anything for farmers in the state in the wake of the agrarian crisis, a charge Shah trashed, saying it was the ruling Samajwadi Party that has done nothing for them.

"Except for indulging in "bhashan baji" (making speeches), the state government has done nothing for the affected farmers," Shah said at a public meeting in Sikandarau tehsil of Hathras, hours after Yadav's remarks in the state capital.

Daring the BJP to disclose details of the funds it had given to the state for farmers, Yadav had earlier said, "I want to ask, if the Centre has given money, where is it? Delivering an address from a stage and claiming that thousands of crore have been given is easy, they (BJP leaders) should tell how and when it was given. I say BJP is the most 'chalu' (shrewd) party."

The chief minister made the remark at an event at his official residence where he distributed cheques to farmers whose crops were destroyed due to unseasonal rains.

Asserting that the Samajwadi Party government was trying to help farmers, Yadav said it has given Rs 7 lakh to the kin of farmers who died due to shock after suffering crop loss.

"The Centre should have given Rs 14 lakh. There should be competition in giving relief to farmers...," the CM said. Upping the attack on BJP, he said, "Its policy is to divert the attention of people. Now, people will not be carried away by mere slogans and will expect work to be done on the ground."

The chief minister said as far as relief for farmers was concerned, the SP government has distributed Rs 2,000 crore. Stung by Yadav's comments, Shah said, "The UP chief minister is not a well-wisher of farmers.

He only makes speeches. Farmers suffering due to hailstorm and untimely rains have not yet got their cheques," the BJP President claimed.

Shah said he was informed by farmers of Hathras that 40 farmers had died in the district but the district magistrate and the tehsildar had cited different reasons for the deaths, while cheques of a paltry Rs 250 were sanctioned by 'Lekhpal' (revenue official). "This is why farmers are committing suicide," he said.

PTI