Waive off farmers' loans, compensate Rs 25k per hectare: RLD

Accusing the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government of not "extending relief" to the farmers hit by recent unprecedented rains and hailstorms, RLD chief Ajit Singh today demanded their "loans be waived off" and they should be compensated at the rate of Rs 25,000 per hectare.
"Calamity of such a magnitude has never taken place. Crops on several acres of land were destroyed and more than 150 farmers have died due to shock in UP. But neither the central nor the state government has extended any relief to the farmers," Singh alleged talking to the reporters here.
"Both the governments are not concerned about the farmers and lack sensitiveness," he added demanding that the farmer loans should be waived off.

While demanding the farmers should get compensation at the rate of Rs 25,000 per hectare, the RLD chief alleged the state government was distributing cheques of Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500.
"In that also there are complaints of cheques bouncing from a number of districts," he alleged.
The former Union Minister said the SP government should understand the cheques being distributed was public money and not that of the party.

Referring to the proposed land acquisition bill, he contended that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the new bill would create a new path of development for the farmers, but before changing the 2013 Act he should remember that it was formulated after long agitation.

Singh also alleged that Prime Minister Modi, who was more on foreign trips, never visit the villages in the country.
He sought to remind the BJP that it had supported the 2013 Act but is terming it anti-farmer now.
On the demand of Harit Pradesh, the RLD chief said that a 'sammelan' was being called next month.
On a question regarding alliance during 2017 UP Assembly elections Singh said that it was far.
On Janata Pariwar, he said that while Mulayam Singh has been named as its president, the name of the party was yet to be decided.
He said that discussions were being held on seat sharing in Bihar, but when its one party then what's the question of seat sharing.

Singh reminded that such alliances had taken shape in the past, but had never lasted.
He also alleged that there was nothing like law and order left the UP.
Later in the day the RLD chief was invited by Governor Ram Naik, an official spokesman said where they had discussion on the problems of the farmers.