The Hindu : BJP accused of neglecting the poor

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Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

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BJP accused of neglecting the poor

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, MARCH 2. The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, B.D.Kalla, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party Government in the State of leaving out the poor sections of society from its 100-day action plan. The efforts of the Government so far had been to please big traders, industrialists, builders and the rich, he said in a statement here today.

"Many of the important areas which involved the life of middle and lower income groups like agriculture, animal husbandry, civil supplies and panchayati raj institutions, which could not be included in the action plan so far would not find any place in the action plan till the elections are over,'' Mr.Kalla noted. The meetings to discuss these departments were postponed many times and now no new announcements could be possible as the model code of conduct was in force, he pointed out.

Mr.Kalla said that he had been receiving maximum complaints from the small and marginal farmers who were facing many problems in the present Government. There was widespread resentment among the farmers on the increase in tax on tractor trolley and reduction in the subsidies of fertilizers and other farm inputs.

The farmers were not getting remunerative prices for their produce as the minimum support prices fixed by the Centre were not matching the increase in the kerosene, diesel and petrol prices and that of the cooking gas. The disincentives in the farm sector would lead to more unemployment, Mr.Kalla warned.

Mr.Kalla noted that the new Government had only postponed the collection of "abhiyana'' (irrigation cess) which was waived by the previous Congress Government in the case of farmers of the drought affected areas. Now the farmers were feeling insecure as the Government might decide on the collection of all the previous installments of the cess in one go, he pointed out.

The Opposition leader said the districts of Bhilwara and Dungarpur were now facing drought-like situation but no relief measures had been initiated so far. Despite the publicity over the introduction of the crop insurance in the State, the Government had not paid its share in the scheme, which, again would adversely affect the farmers, he said.

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BJP accused of neglecting the poor