The Hindu : National : What did the NDA do for farmers, asks Sonia

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What did the NDA do for farmers, asks Sonia

M. Rajeev

“Its wrong policies landed farmers in trouble”

Sonia describes NDA’s claims as sheer hypocrisy
Dismisses speculation on
early elections

JAGGAMPET (Andhra Pradesh): United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday said farmers suffered during the past few years because of the “wrong policies” pursued by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

It was because of the NDA’s misplaced policies that the UPA government announced the “historic programme” of waiver of farm loans to the tune of Rs.60,000 crore. “I believe this programme will be completed by June and I am glad that the Andhra Pradesh government headed by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has assured [us] that it will take care of farmers in the State who, for some reasons, are not going to benefit from it,” she said.

Ms. Gandhi was addressing a well-attended public meeting here after inaugurating the Thota Venkatachalam Pushkar lift irrigation scheme that will draw water to a height of 1,000 feet from the Godavari. The meeting coincided with her completing 10 years as AICC president.

Describing as “sheer hypocrisy” the claim by BJP and other NDA leaders, and the Telugu Desam Party that they were champions of the farmers’ cause, she asked what they did for farmers when they were in government for six years. “Why did they not give such a massive loan waiver as has been announced by the UPA government?”

The Congress leader said the NDA regime increased the minimum support price for paddy by only Rs.60 a quintal in its six-year stint whereas the UPA government raised it by Rs.190 in the last four years.

The Congress at the Centre as well as in States was taking measures to benefit the farmer, the “annadaata,” by way of repayment of the debt owed to the farming community.

Dismissing speculation on early elections to Parliament, she said: “We have over one year left for the elections to the Lok Sabha and the AP Assembly and the Congress is fulfilling all the promises made in the manifesto as well as in the Common Minimum Programme.”

Ms. Gandhi showered praise on Dr. Reddy for making the State number one in implementation of several schemes including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.

Over 90 lakh women in the seven lakh self-help groups in Andhra Pradesh would benefit from the insurance cover provided by the Centre, she said.

Dr. Reddy and Union Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju spoke.

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