‘3rd front’ meets PM on AP farmers’ plight
A delegation of leaders from non-Congress, non-BJP parties met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday drawing his attention to the plight of farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
CPI leader A.B. Bardhan told reporters that the Prime Minister has assured that the issue of alleged suicide by farmers hit by natural calamities in Andhra Pradesh would be looked into. The delegation also handed over to him a letter from TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu describing the condition of untimely rain and cyclone-hit farmers in the state, he said. Mr Naidu has been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding adequate relief to farmers in the state. Dr Singh assured the delegation that a decision would be taken after an official team visiting the state to assess the situation submits its report, Mr Bardhan said.
“The PM said he will consider all these. An official team has been sent for the assessment. Let them come back. Then they will take a decision,” he said.
The PM also asked the delegation comprising leaders from seven parties, including the CPI(M), CPI, TDP, JD(S), RLD, AIADMK and MDMK, to “convey” his sympathy to Mr Naidu, who continues his hunger strike in a hospital in Hyderabad.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said the delegation told the Prime Minister that the Centre should intervene as the situation in the state was very serious with “137 farmers having committed suicide so far.”
“This is something which cannot afford any bureaucratic delay,” Ms Karat said and blamed the “callous” approach towards the farmers by both the Centre and the state government. She said the delegation told the PM that the `400 crores advance package announced by him to provide succour to farmers is not enough.
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Andhra Cong MPs seek Sonia help
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi
Dec. 22: Congress MPs from Andhra Pradesh led by Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy on Wednesday called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and sought her help in ameliorating the sufferings of the Andhra farmers.
Later, addressing the press at his residence, Dr Jaipal Reddy said that the Congress president responded positively to all their requests.
He said, “The Congress president promised all help to the suffering farmers.” He promised to take up the issue further with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Stating that Mrs Gandhi deeply felt sorry for the grieving farmers, Dr Reddy said, “Mrs Sonia Gandhi deeply regretted the sufferings of the farmers.”
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