Congress to protest non-implementation of food security in UP

The Congress will launch a statewide agitation in Uttar Pradesh Nov 21 against the ruling Samajwadi Party for failing to implement the Food Security Act in the state.

The agitation will be led by Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Nirmal Khatri at Laxman Park in Lucknow. Party workers will also lay siege to the state assembly building.

The Congress has begun a door-to-door campaign and is informing the people of the benefits of the Food Security Act and "exposing the Samajwadi Party for not implementing it", state Congress spokesman Zeeshan Haider told IANS.

"The act would benefit 12 crore people of the state but the Akhilesh Yadav government is not allowing it to be implemented. We will expose the government for its anti-poor stance," he added.

Party leaders say the central leadership has asked cadres to fan out across the state and protest the non-implementation of other central-aided schemes as well.

While the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-II survives on the crucial support of Samajwadi Party's 22 parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha, the two parties are at daggers drawn ahead of the 2014 general elections.