BSP members stage walkout from UP Assembly over farmers' issue

Pandemonium erupted in Uttar Pradseh Assembly today after BSP members pressed for a debate on the losses to farmers due to recent hailstorm, which was rejected by the Speaker following which they walked out of the House.
As soon as the House met, Opposition members, including BJP, BSP, Congress and RLD raised the matter demanding a discussion on the issue adjourning the Question Hour.
Congress and RLD members jumped into the well of the House to attract attention of the SP government.
Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya said farmers of the state had suffered huge losses due to hailstorm and demanded that government should initiate a discussion on the issue.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan said the issue was serious but the damage was caused due to the weather condition.
"The matter is serious and the damage to farmers occurred due to the weather".

However, unsatisfied with the reply, BSP members walked out of the House raising slogans against the government.
"We wanted a discussion on the issue of farmers whose entire crop has been damaged due to the hailstorm. But the government is not serious about it and making laughable statements," Maurya said.
Ready crops of farmers suffered losses due to heavy rains and hailstorm that have lashed the state in the past few days.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav yesterday instructed officials concerned to assess the losses to the Rabi crop by conducting a survey and provide necessary relief as per the rules.