Farmers Movement Archive

Double crop MSP to double income of farmers: Akhilesh

Varanasi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav fired a salvo at the government on farmers’ protests and demanded that it should double the minimum support price of crops to double farmers’ income as promised. Speaking to the media after attending a wedding at the residence of former minister Durga Prasad Yadav in his parliamentary constituency Azamgarh on Monday, Akhilesh also alleged step-motherly treatment with his constituency. “We support farmers’ agitation. Our leaders are being put under house arrest to stop Kisan Yatra. I congratulate the farmers of Punjab for opening front against farm laws which have been brought for the benefit of few at the cost of farmers. We demand doubling of minimum support price of cops to double the income of farmers as promised by BJP.” SP protests extending support to the farmers agitating against farm laws were peaceful in Azamgarh. The farmers are staging protests in the cold, but the government is doing lip service by holding talks instead of fulfilling their demands, he said. “We ensured the starting of a cooperative sugar mill in Sathiaon, Azamgarh in our regime. But, dues of sugarcane farmers here are in crores despite tall claims of the chief minister,” he added. All basic work of Manduri airstrip in Azamgarh was completed in our regime and BJP government could not even ensure laying of 4 km airstrip in past four years. The condition of roads in Azamgarh has worsened, said Yadav, alleging development work is being deliberately neglected because Azamgarh is his parliamentary constituency. Purvanchal Expressway’s foundation had already been laid but this government got foundation laying done again by the Prime Minister. The contractor was also changed, but the government could not ensure completion of the project, said Akhilesh, adding the mandis proposed along the expressway at Azamgarh, Ghazipur and Sultanpur could also not be established. He also questioned preparations for Covid-19 vaccination in the state. After reaching Azamgarh on Sunday, the SP chief visited the home of former minister Wasim Ahmed, who died in Lucknow on Saturday. He met the family members and condoled the demise of the three-time MLA. In view of Akhilesh’s presence and his likely participation in Kisan Yatra, heavy police force was deployed around the circuit house. Party workers gathered outside in huge numbers and damaged the gate. In view of the chaotic scene, Akhilesh left for the residence of party leader Israr in Rani ki Sarai area.

The Times of India

2020-12-15

Varanasi