The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party said that though the Akhilesh Yadav Government has declared this fiscal as ‘Kisan Varsh’, it has done nothing to provide succour to the farmers who are facing drought or drought-like situation.
“It is an irony that the Government has declared 50 districts as drought hit but has not released a single penny to provide relief in these villages. The ruling dispensation is totally relying on the support of Central Government,” BJP spokesman Dr Chandra Mohan said in a statement issued in lucknow on Thursday.
He said that a 10-member Central team which is touring the state to assess the damage, had met Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan and would also visit the affected villages. The report might take weeks and funds might come after a month.
“This is a long time. The UP Government should take interest in providing relief to the farmers and extend financial help to the community,” the BJP spokesman said. “The Chief Minister recently has asked officials to provide ‘til’ (sesame seeds) to farmers in drought-hit areas free of cost. But from where they will get other resources,” he said.
Hitting out at the Samajwadi Party, the BJP spokesman said that the party spent over `100 crores on the birthday bash of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. “If that money had been diverted to these drought villages, the birthday would have got a special meaning,” he said.