Centre Has Not Given Money to UP Farmers, Alleges Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow: Charging the Narendra Modi Government with not giving money for farmers' relief, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, today, dared the BJP to reveal details of the funds it had given to the state.

"I want to ask, if Centre has given money, where is it? Delivering an address from a stage and claiming that thousands of crore have been given is easy, they (BJP leaders) should tell how and when it was given. I say BJP is the most 'chalu' (shrewd)," Mr Yadav said.

He was speaking during an event at his official residence where he distributed cheques to farmers whose crops were destroyed due to unseasonal rains.

Claiming that the Samajwadi Party government was trying to help farmers, Mr Yadav said the state government has given Rs 7 lakh to the kin of farmers who died due to shock after suffering from crop loss.

"The Centre should have given Rs 14 lakh. There should be competition in giving relief to farmers... When Parliament session was on, 'netaji' (Mulayam Singh Yadav) had raised the matter. I also have written a number of letters to the Centre," he said.

Upping the attack on the BJP, he said, "Its policy is to divert attention of people. Now, people will not be impressed by slogans alone and will expect work to be done on ground."

The Chief Minister said as far as relief for farmers was concerned, the SP government has distributed Rs 2,000 crore.

An assessment report has been sent to the Centre on loss of crops in the state and the resulting plight of farmers because of natural calamities.

Alluding to the debate caused over cancellation of Food Park project in Amethi, Mr Yadav said the state had done a lot for the Food Park - from giving land to helping in other formalities and said but the Congress never thanked them for it.

However, Mr Yadav said a similar park is to be opened in Mainpuri, hoping that in future it would be set up in Jhansi too.

Commenting on Supreme Court's decision barring the use of photographs on advertisements, Mr Yadav said,

"Decision has come. Now we cannot advertise with our photographs. We have never fought for photo. I say from the first day that that we are ahead in doing work and far behind (others) in tom-tomming them."

He further requested the Apex court to fix a dress code for politicians.