Akhilesh slams BJP govt over farm distress, LPG crisis

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday launched a sharp attack on BJP govt, alleging that farmers in Uttar Pradesh have been pushed into distress, while rising prices and administrative failures have worsened public hardship.Speaking to the media after paying floral tributes to social thinker Ram Manohar Lohia at Lohia Park in Gomti Nagar on his birth anniversary, Akhilesh said potato farmers have suffered heavy losses due to extremely low market prices. "The situation has become so dire that many farmers chose not to harvest their crops. Instead, they ploughed their fields with standing crops using tractors," he said. Akhilesh accused the govt of failing to honour its promise of procuring potatoes from farmers. "The govt must clarify how much budget was allocated for potato procurement and how much was actually utilised," he said. Targeting the state's investment claims, the former CM alleged that govt was indulging in "propaganda". He demanded details on how many MoUs have translated into actual investments on the ground, under which industrial policies such investments came, and how much incentive was provided to investors. He also questioned the employment generated through these investments. He further criticised govt over rising inflation and shortages, particularly of LPG cylinders. "People are once again forced to stand in queues—first during demonetisation, then for fertilisers and now for cooking gas. LPG has virtually gone missing. Tea stalls, street vendors, restaurants and chaat shops are shutting down," he said, warning that prolonged global conflicts could further aggravate the crisis. On law and order, Akhilesh alleged that the situation has deteriorated, citing recent incidents in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Mathura and Badaun. He accused govt of shielding criminals.Earlier, Akhilesh remembered Lohia's contribution to social justice. "Lohia's ideology focused on the rights of the poor, backward classes, women and minorities. Only socialist principles can bridge growing inequality," he said. Akhilesh also distributed laptops to students of Chaudhary Shivcharan Singh Inter College in Moradabad with an aim to promote digital education and support students in their academic pursuits.