Opposition parties vow to carry on struggle for Andhra farmers

GUNTUR - Leaders of various national and regional parties Thursday vowed to continue their struggle at the national level to get justice for the farmers of Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a massive public meeting organised by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in this Andhra town, the leaders hit hard at Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for ignoring the welfare of the farmers and blamed its policies for the crisis in agriculture and spate of suicides by farmers.

Former prime minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) president H.D. Deve Gowda urged farmers to rise and revolt against the central government which, he claimed, was neglecting their problems.

Deve Gowda warned the UPA government that it would have to face the fury of farmers.

“The rulers who ignore the problems of farmers are destroyed,” he said.

The JD-S leader voiced concern over the spate of suicides of farmers in different parts of the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh.

Thousands of farmers from different parts of Andhra Pradesh attended the meeting organized by TDP to highlight the problems of farmers.

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu said his party along with like-minded parties would fight a relentless battle till farmers get justice.

Naidu, who recently went on hunger strike for eight days, said both the central and state governments had failed to come to the rescue of farmers. He pointed out that huge crop losses due to heavy rains had led to suicides of over 100 farmers in one month.

The TDP chief demanded compensation for farmers who lost their crops, implementation of the (M.S.) Swaminathan committee recommendations and supply of nine-hour free electricity daily to farmers.

Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat alleged that UPA government was neck deep in corruption. “The 2G spectrum scam alone is of Rs.176,000 crore and with this money the government can pay a compensation of Rs.10,000 to every farmer who lost his crops,” he said.

Former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi said the country could not progress if 65-70 percent of its population was neglected.

Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh blamed the policies of the UPA government for the problems of farmers.

Leaders of CPI, CPI-M, Forward Bloc and other parties also addressed the meeting.