Ranchi, May 13 (IANS). Jharkhand BJP has announced a statewide agitation against the Hemant Soren government of the state on the issue of farmers. BJP state president Aditya Sahu said that party workers will hold a one-day protest at all the block headquarters of Jharkhand from May 15 to 20.
Aditya Sahu termed Hemant government as anti-farmer and said that this government has completely failed in fulfilling the promises made before the elections. He said that JMM and Congress had made attractive promises in their manifesto like giving minimum support price of Rs 3200 per quintal to the farmers, free electricity for agricultural work and providing fertilizers and seeds at affordable rates, but the government forgot them as soon as they came to power.
Raising the issue of black marketing of fertiliser, he alleged that bags of urea were being sold at double the fixed rate and even PDS salt was being black marketed. Targeting the Hemant government, the state president said that closing the ‘Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana’ started by the previous BJP government and creating obstacles in the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme shows the anti-farmer mentality of this government.
At the same time, he expressed deep concern over the loss suffered by farmers due to unseasonal rains and heavy hailstorm in recent times. Sahu said that due to hailstorm, crops of watermelon, cucumber and other vegetables have been completely destroyed in many districts of the state including Ranchi, due to which the backs of the farmers have been broken.
He demanded from the state government that an immediate survey should be conducted to properly assess the loss and the affected farmers should be given appropriate compensation. The BJP President said that many farmers do farming by taking loans or mortgaging their jewellery. The hailstorm has crushed their hopes. Along with this, he also appealed to the government to provide immediate relief for the damaged houses of the poor, so that the affected families can be saved from troubles before the arrival of monsoon.
–IANS
SNC/DKP
