Date:23/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/23/stories/2007122354600600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

BJP to resume ‘poru bata’ programme

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The BJP will resume its ‘poru bata’ programme focussing on the problems of farmers at Guntur in the first week of January. Former party president M. Venkaiah Naidu will be present on the occasion, State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya told the State executive meeting of Kisan Morcha, the farmers’ wing of the party, here on Saturday.

Mr. Dattatreya said the BJP had decided to take ‘poru bata’ as a prestigious event in the preparations of the party for next elections. He hoped the programme would mount pressure on the Central Government to look into the demands of farmers, particularly remunerative price for their produce.

He also said the national agenda in coming months was going to be decided on the basis of issues concerning agriculture.

Mr. Dattatreya promised that the NDA-led by BJP would waive the loans of farmers if it was voted to power. N. Indrasena Reddy, party national secretary and in-charge of All-India Kisan Morcha, said the Centre could not be expected to hike the MSP for various agricultural products because the State failed to fulfil its basic responsibilities towards farmers. He added that small countries like Burma and Vietnam had achieved surplus in food production but India’s position on this front has come down. P. Sugunakar Rao, State president of Kisan Morcha, said the executive meeting was convened to discuss participation of delegates from the State for the All-India Kisan Morcha conference at Delhi in February.