A delegation of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), UP unit, met UP Governor Anandiben Patel on Tuesday to apprise her of sugarcane farmers’ woes and other issues and handed her over a 10-point memorandum of demands.
The delegation consisted of 12 RLD members, including national spokesman Anil Dubey, working state president Manjeet Singh, team convenor Anupam Mishra, national general secretary of minority cell Arif Mahmood and youth wing leader Ambuj Patel.
Giving details about the memorandum of demands, Dubey said sugarcane growers have arrears of Rs 1,77,648. 96 crore on cooperative and private sugar mills for the fiscal year 2021-22. He said the crop cost has increased manifold but the farmers are not getting the cost of the crops in mandis.
“The government’s promise of doubling the income of farmers has proved to be a farce. The farmers are left with no money for medical and education expenses,” he said.
Working president Manjeet Singh said at least an incident of crime against women was being reported in Uttar Pradesh everyday. “The youths are struggling to get jobs but the government is least bothered about their plight,” he said.
The delegation demanded immediate payment of arrears with interest to sugarcane growers. The delegation also demanded MSP Guarantee Law in light of the formula of Swaminathan Commission, and justice to the families of those killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.