RLD chief Ajit Singh slams Centre, UP govt for 'neglecting' farmers

Rashtriya Lok Sal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh has lambasted the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government for not fulfilling their promises of providing relief to sugarcane farmers.

Despite assurances from the Centre, sugarcane farmers were yet to get their dues from sugar mill, Singh said at an event to mark the seventh death anniversary of farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait at the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) headquarters in Sisoli yesterday.

The BJP government had promised to clear payments every 14 days, he said.

The RLD leader also criticised the Centre for its sugarcane import policy, which has directly affected farmers and said ripe sugarcane crop was not being purchased from farmers.

Their fields are full of sugarcane but the government is not buying them the farmers need the land to sow other crops as well, Singh said.

Calling upon the farming community to stand united, Singh credited Tikait for protecting the interests of Indian farmers.