Farmers Movement Archive

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath hammers Opposition for inciting farmers

LUCKNOW: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said on the floor of UP Assembly that the opposition was inciting farmers to protest against the three farm laws and fuelling anarchy just to serve its petty political interest. Speaking on the second day of the budget session of UP assembly, Yogi insisted that the three farm laws were in the series of steps taken by government for the welfare of farmers. “The provision to allow farmers the freedom to sell their produce other than mandi is hurting the middlemen and their political masters,” he said, adding that it is not the farmers but the middlemen trying to rake up the protest. “They are bothered since the money is reaching the accounts of farmers directly,” he said. Yogi sought to identify the people who were conspiring to malign the image of the country within and abroad through protest. “This is happening at a time when the country is seen as a most sought after investment destination. Just shedding crocodile tears would not solve the purpose of the farmers,” he said, underscoring the fact that if there was any confusion on an issue then the mechanism of dialogue prevailed in a democratic set up. The CM said that the Central government had shown its full commitment in solving the issue. “But what happened in Delhi on Republic Day brought down the dignity of the Tricolor and the country before the world,” he said, tearing into the opposition of triggering the protest just for the sake of it. He said the government would now allow anyone to spread anarchy, insult constitutional symbols and take law into one’s hands. Citing PM Narendra Modi's statement that the MSP would continue, Yogi said that his government was conducting procurement of paddy on MSP. He said that the state government procured 66 lakh metric tonnes of paddy on MSP, which was much more than done in any previous government. “PM Modi has given MSP to farmers. We brought policy for procurement in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. The contract farming, too, has to be in favour of the farmer. For this, the Centre has proposed 10,000 Farmer Produce Organisation (FPOs). In UP the state government has already initiated the step that aims to increase the income of farmers,” he maintained. Yogi said that the opposition in UP would not discuss the payment of Rs 1.22 lakh crore to the cane farmers and other reforms brought in the cane sector. “All this is hurting the opposition which has never been the supporters of farmers and has largely been engaged in corrupt practices,” he alleged. He categorically took on the Samajwadi Party saying that he felt “surprised” with the SP leaders’ concern for farmers, youth and women. Yogi said that during the campaign against land sharks, the state government managed to free 66,000 hectares of land, most of which was grabbed by people associated with the party which was previously in power in UP. “We are using the same land for various purposes including construction of cow shelters and defence corridor,” he said. “Compare the performances of BSP and SP governments between 2003 and 2017 with ours. BJP’s four years of governance are better than the combined 14-year performance of these two parties,” he said. Reiterating that his government was committed to taking steps which are beneficial to the farmers, Yogi pointed out that the state government ensured operation of 199 sugar mills despite the pandemic while those in other states had to be closed. He stressed that his government managed to pay cane dues more than what was paid between 2004 and 2017. “Cane development department stood with sugar mills during the pandemic. Lockdown was announced on March 25 but the mills operated till June. We ensured that mills continue to operate so that farmers do not have to face problems in taking their produce to the mills,” he said, adding the coronavirus management in Uttar Pradesh was the best in the country. “We started wheat procurement from April 1. UP was the first state to set up wheat purchase centres. We had to make extra arrangements for wheat purchase but did not create any inconvenience for farmers and made record procurement in four years,” Yogi said. Highlighting the central government’s efforts for the welfare of farmers, Yogi said under the PM Kisan Samman Scheme, 12 crore farmers were receiving Rs 6,000 annually directly in their bank accounts. “The three laws are in continuation of pro-farmer steps being taken by the Centre. Farmers can sell their produce anywhere and at the price they deem fit,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-02-20

Lucknow