UP govt accuses SP of doing little for farmers during its rule

The Uttar Pradesh government accused Tuesday the Samajwadi Party of doing little during its rule to help the sugarcane farmers.

Speaking to reporters here at the UP BJP office, UP sugarcane development minister (independent charge) Suresh Rana said the opposition was accusing the Yogi Adityanath government of "agrarian distress" to vent out its frustration.

"The opposition very well knows the various welfare steps taken by the Yogi Adityanath government for the farmers of the state.

"Statistics tell the real story. In 2015-16 during the SP rule, sugarcane worth Rs 18,000 crore was purchased from the cane farmers in UP, whereas in the BJP government, the corresponding figures were Rs 35,500 crore (2017-18)," Rana said.

The UP minister's statement assumes significance as the SP leaders had protested outside the UP Assembly this morning blaming the saffron party for the agrarian distress in the state.

He added that as far as potato prices are considered, it was the BJP government which framed the minimum support price for potatoes.

When asked that the SP is accusing the BJP government of holding a short Winter Session to "hide its failures", Rana said, "We do not need any certificate from the SP.

"We need certificate from the people and the farmers of the state. And, they have already blessed us in the past and will continue to do so in the future," he said.