Date:07/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/07/stories/2006080716351400.htm

National

Rajnath Singh to lead farmers' agitation

Special Correspondent

To sit on a day's dharna at Yeotmal, members of Parliament and MLAs from Maharashtra to join agitation

Package has helped co-operative banks held by NCP leaders to fill their coffers

BJP to demand immediate increase in the MSP and import duty on cotton

NEW DELHI: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh will lead a massive agitation of farmers against the "failed" package announced by the Prime Minister for cotton-growing farmers committing suicides in Maharashtra.

Mr. Singh will sit on a day's dharna at Yeotmal in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on Wednesday along with Maharashtra BJP leader Gopinath Munde and State president Nitin Gadkari.

All Members of Parliament and MLAs from Maharashtra will join the agitation. The failure of the package in the "suicide-infested" region is evident from the fact that more than 90 farmers have committed suicide in the last one month, a statement issued by the BJP said here on Sunday. The Prime Minister's package revolved around waiver of interest and re-scheduling of loans, which has not helped farmers directly. This package in effect has helped the co-operative banks held by Nationalist Congress Party leaders to fill their coffers, the statement said.