Sugarcane arrears issue: UP Assembly witnesses uproar

The issue of pending sugarcane dues of farmers rocked the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly today with opposition BSP members chanting slogans against the state government alleging it had betrayed the farmers.
Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Leader of the Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya said arrears amounting to Rs 6000 crore were still pending and farmers were committing suicide.
"The government has betrayed the farmers," the BSP member said.
Dalbir Singh (RLD) said the Centre was ready to provide interest-free loan to sugar mills for payment of arrears but the state government was not providing guarantee for it.
Hukum Singh (BJP) said both the sugar industry and the farmers were facing hardships and demanded constitution of a Commission to look into "irregularities" committed in the past five years in this regard.

On Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan's remarks that the previous SP government had set up 35 sugar mills but the BSP dispensation sold 27 at throwaway prices, Maurya said the government was trying to divert the issue.
Thereafter, the BSP members trooped into the well of the House and chanted anti-government slogans.