Laloo politicising farmers' issue: Nitish Kumar

PATNA, DEC. 25. The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, today accused the Rabri Devi Ministry and the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, of engaging in ``petty politics'' on farmers' problems and said the Samata Party would expose the State Government.

Talking to presspersons at the venue of a two-day dharna, organised by the Samata Party, to protest alleged Government apathy towards grievances of farmers and the procurement of paddy, Mr. Kumar said it was not the Centre but the Rabri Devi Ministry which was responsible for the farmers' plight.

``(Mr.) Laloo (Yadav) is attacking the Centre for what is actually the failure of the State Government,'' he said and added that had the Government been serious, it would have by now sent a proposal to the Centre for the procurement of paddy and rice.

Referring to the RJD's announcement of launching a `Desh Bachao, Kisan Bachao' (save nation, save farmer) movement next month, the Minister said it was hard to associate Mr. Laloo Yadav with the movement.

The Centre had, for the first time, set aside the standard for rice conversion rate from paddy in Bihar and it had been reduced to 64 per cent from 67 per cent.

The Centre had also announced several concessions, including the opening of purchase centres in each district and the State was supposed to send a proposal for admissible rates to the farmers for rice. The Centre had announced more concessions to farmers in Bihar than Punjab but the Bihar Government lacked the will to utilise them.

Several Samata leaders, including its State spokesman, Mr. P. K. Sinha, participated in the dharna which began today.

- PTI

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