Perform 'yagya' for respite from drought: BJP's Virendra Singh

With more than 40 percent of the nation facing scarcity of water and reeling under drought like situation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Virendra Singh on Thursday suggested that people should organise 'yagyas' to purify the nature so that there is ample rainfall.

Justifying his assertion, the MP from Uttar Pradesh's Bhadoi Lok Sabha constituency said 'yagya' is a spiritual and scientific tradition considering the modern-day system.

"There are spiritual as well as scientific reasons for 'yagya'. It helps in attracting clouds," he told ANI.

Singh further said 'yagya' is not only sacred for farmers and affluent family, but it is also a mean to purify the nature.

"The smoke from the 'yagya' reaches the sky and rainfall takes place and this has been scientifically corroborated," he added.

When asked if all the regions facing drought should organise 'yagya' for rains, Singh said: "I can say this very confidently that the regions facing drought will get rains if they conduct 'yagya'."

Singh further said drought occurs because the people destroy nature in the name of development.

"I want the government and the state administration to appeal to the rich people to spend money for digging wells and ponds, which could provide water in times of drought," he added.

The lawmaker's remark comes after the Supreme Court rapped Haryana, Gujarat and Bihar on the drought issue and directed the Centre to convene an urgent meeting with their chief secretaries to assess the drought situation in these states.

The apex court had earlier on Tuesday said that these states lacked the will to even admit to the drought-like situation in their jurisdictions.

The apex court directed the Union Agriculture Secretary to hold a meeting within a week with the three chief secretaries in view of the available data and, if so advised, persuade the state governments to declare drought in whichever district, taluka or tehsil it was necessary.