Date:17/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/17/stories/2008031755941200.htm

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Advani seeks relief for farmers

“They don’t get adequate compensation”

“People dissatisfied with UPA government”
No provision in the budget for loan waiver: Rajnath

— Photo: PTI

IN ELECTION MODE: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani addressing the party's Vijay Sankalp rally in Jind in Haryana on Sunday. He demanded adequate relief for farmers, including proper compensation for acquisition of their land for economic development.

Jind (Haryana): Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani on Sunday demanded adequate relief for farmers, including proper compensation for acquisition of their land for economic development.

Addressing a rally organised by the BJP’s Haryana unit here, he said the financial condition of farmers was “deteriorating rapidly” driving them to commit suicide in several parts of the country.

Farmers were still mired in debt and abject poverty, Mr. Advani said and demanded adequate relief for them.

“The financial position of farmers, particularly in Vidarbha, is very bad. The government should give adequate relief to the poor kisan,” he said.

He said farmers were not given adequate compensation for acquisition of their land.

Turning to inflation, Mr. Advani said prices of essential commodities had increased manifold hitting the common man. “Corruption is rampant and people are dissatisfied with the UPA government,” the BJP leader said.

“Soft approach”

On terrorism, he alleged that the Congress-led UPA government had adopted a soft approach and was protecting Parliament-attack mastermind Afzal Guru, now on death row. “Afzal Guru has not been hanged though he has been sentenced to death,” Mr. Advani said.

BJP president Rajnath Singh alleged that the UPA government had not made any provision in the budget for waiving loans of farmers amounting to Rs. 60,000 crore.

He recalled the steps taken by the NDA government in improving the lot of farmers. The then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had unveiled several welfare schemes for farmers, including reducing interest on loans.

He alleged that the UPA government had failed to improve the condition of the common man.

Haryana BJP chief Atma Chand Manchanda said the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government had failed on all fronts.

He said there was acute shortage of electricity and water and the law and order situation was deteriorating. — PTI