Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Kisan Sabha blames Govt. for ryots' suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR MAY 21. The general secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, the farmers' wing of CPI (M), K. Varadarajan, has alleged that State and Central Governments were responsible for the suicide of farmers in Anantapur district.

Talking to newspersons after visiting the kin of a few farmers who had committed suicide in Rapthadu and Kudair mandal on Tuesday, Mr. Varadarajan said the condition of farmers was shocking. The farmers were being forced to take to the extreme step due to government's failure in discharging its duties towards the backbone of the country, he charged.

It appears that the Government was not helping farmers in extending credit facility and identifying correct spot for sinking borewells, he observed after interacting with the families of farmers. Citing an example, he said it was a fact that the Government had not done anything though eight farmers had ended their lives in Gotkur village of Kudair mandal during the last three years.

The anti-farmer policies being adopted by the States and Central Government during the last 10 years had been resulting in the suicide of farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Mr. Varadarajan stated. The suicide of 73 farmers during the last six months in Kerala would reveal that even the defiant farmers too had been breaking down.

Taking a dig at the political parties and organisations which had been voicing against the subsidies being given to the farming sector, the AIKS leader mentioned that the US Government had increased the subsidy by 175 billion dollars from 300 billion dollars after Doha summit.

. Reacting to the special package announced for Anantapur district by the State Government, he said it failed to provide any immediate relief and the Chief Minister was talking about long-term measures.

During his visit to villages, Mr. Varadarajan was accompanied by the CPI (M) Politburo member Koratala Satyanarayana, AP Rythu Sangham leaders -- S. Malla Reddy, Y. Visveswar Reddy and Z. Veera Reddy -- and the CPI (M) leaders -- G. Obulakonda Reddy and K.V. Ramana -- and others.

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