Farooqui slams UP Govt. for mocking farmers' plight

Former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Kamal Farooqui on Tuesday lashed out at the Samajwadi Party led-Uttar Pradesh Government, saying that the state government was mocking at the plight of the farmers by distributing cheques of Rs. 23 to Rs.100 as compensation in drought-hit Banda District.

"We were thinking that the Samajwadi Party would make Uttar Pradesh an 'Uttam Pradesh' but that is not the case. By distributing cheques of Rs.23 to Rs.100, they are mocking at the plight of the poor farmers who are already in distress," Farooqui told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader P.L. Punia said that the meagre amount that was being distributed as compensation to the already suffering farmers in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region was an insult to them.

"The compensation that is being provided in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region is an insult to the farmers. What kind of compensation is being provided by giving cheques of Rs.75 and Rs.100? The farmers should receive sufficient and adequate compensation, either from the state or from the central government, Punia told ANI.

Earlier, yesterday the Banda District administration distributed cheques ranging from Rs.23 to Rs.100 as compensation to the farmers.

The farmers went to the office of the District Magistrate and expressed their anger, shouting slogans for the dismissal of the former.

The farmers also said that the amount that would be spent to encash the cheques would be more than the compensation that was given to them.