BJP, Congress stage walkout in UP assembly

Lucknow, Feb 26: Alleging that the

government was not serious about the plight of farmers in Bundelkhand, BJP and Congress members on Wednesday staged a walk out from UP assembly, even as the state government claimed that there were no cases of suicide by farmers in Bundelkhand.

"The government did not have any information of suicide by farmers in Bundelkhand due to burden of loan on them. Strict directives have been issued by the government to ensure that farmers are not harassed," Cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav told House during Question Hour.

He was replying to a question raised by BJP member Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on suicides by farmers due to loan on them.

The member named a number of farmers, who committed suicide due to pressure to pay off their loans by banks. Yadav asserted that no information of suicide by farmers was there with the government and added that even suicide was a crime.

BJP, Cong alleged that UP govt not serious to farmer's plight

"Suicide is a crime. Those attempting suicide are breaking law. No one is above the law", he said.

While staging a walkout from the assembly, BJP leader Hukum Singh accused the government of having an untoward attitude toward farmers and alleged that it wasn't serious on the issue.

Congress legislative party leader Pradeep Mathur also wanted to put his views on the issue but when disallowed by the Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey he also staged a walkout with party members.

PTI