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Implement report on farmers: UNPA

NEW DELHI: The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) on Tuesday decided to step up pressure on the government to implement the Swaminathan Commission Report on Farmers. This was decided after a national seminar organised by UNPA in the capital to discuss the farm scenario in the country.

Attended by UNPA’s senior leadership — including former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and Om Prakash Chauthala — renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan participated in the deliberations that centred around the failure of the United Progressive Alliance Government to deliver its promises to farmers.

“This government came to power with the promise that it would provide reforms with a human face. What happened to that promise,” UNPA convenor N. Chandrababu Naidu asked at a press conference later. As part of the UNPA resolve to take up cudgels on behalf of farmers, he said five rallies will be organised in different parts of the country early next year.

The first of the rallies has been planned for January 21 in Jaipur. This will be followed by one on February 3 in Mumbai and thereafter another on February 6 in Ranchi. The other two rallies will be organised in Uttar Pradesh later in the month, the venue of which will be decided later, he said. Also, the UNPA is planning a dharna in the capital during the budget session of Parliament to draw attention to the plight of farmers.

According to UNPA spokesperson Amar Singh, the leaders of the coalition have also decided to press for Bharat Ratna for Prof. Swamithanan who was responsible for the Green Revolution and had dedicated his entire life to agriculture.

Later in the day, Mr. Naidu met CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat.

Earlier, at the press conference, Mr. Naidu said the UNPA would take up common causes with the Left parties but maintained that the alliance had a separate and distinct identity.

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