Akhilesh govt 'insensitive' to farmers' suffering: BJP

BJP today hit out at the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh for "playing" with farmers' emotions and being "insensitive" to their suffering as it sought immediate relief for those whose crops were damaged by unseasonal rainfall.
The party also accused the Samajwadi Party dispensation of giving paltry relief, saying it was "unfortunate" that cheques to the tune of Rs 63 and Rs 100 were being handed out, which was like "adding salt to their wounds".
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted 1.5 times relief for crop damage and central teams toured the affected areas of UP, state government officials are yet to visit the farmers to provide them relief, BJP charged.

"Akhilesh government is giving relief cheques of Rs 63 to affected farmers in the state. It shows that there is an insensitive and incompetent chief minister in Uttar Pradesh, who has a total disconnect with the people.
"There is 'Jungle Raj' in the state and the bureaucracy is adding salt to the wounds of farmers who have suffered huge crop losses. We demand that the government immediately make an assessment of the damage and provide relief," said BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma.
"We thank the Prime Minister for enhanced relief of 1.5 times to farmers, from 50 per cent damage to 33 per cent now.

"While central ministers and representatives are visiting affected areas of the state, UP government officials are sitting in air-conditioned offices. UP government should not add salt to the wounds of farmers and instead provide them relief," he said.
Sharma said that although the Centre has provided funds to states, the relief has to be disbursed by the states as per the federal structure of the country.