The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Rythu Garjana’ is just the beginning’

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Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Rythu Garjana’ is just the beginning’

Special Correspondent

UNPA favours waiver of crop loans

‘UNPA will fight inside and outside the Parliament’
Four more farmers’ rallies planned in other States

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said the tremendous response to “Rythu Garjana” at Vijayawada had sent jitters down the spine of the Congress as reflected in the reaction of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and his Cabinet colleagues.

At a press conference here, Mr. Naidu, who was in a buoyant mood, said instead of displaying their skills on the TDP, they could better use them to go to Delhi and persuade the Centre to enhance the minimum support price for paddy and other major crops. “The rally is only the beginning and the UNPA will fight inside and outside Parliament till farmers get justice.” Not just support and remunerative price for farm produce, the UNPA favoured waiver of crop loans taken from cooperative and commercial banks and continuation of all subsidies for the farm sector, he said. “We want the government to act or we will include this in the UNPA’s manifesto. Urban and rural poverty,welfare of artisans form part of our agenda.” Asked if waiver of loans was feasible, he replied in the affirmative and said it should not be a problem as the Centre’s income had gone up to Rs. 3 lakh crore. . “Why cannot it be a part of this be spared for farm sector which is in a crisis?” he asked.

He expressed surprise at some CPI leaders terming the ‘Garjana’ as politically motivated. “When farmer organisations of all Opposition parties call for a bandh there is no politics, but when the TDP and the UNPA organise a rally for a genuine cause they see a motive.”

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