TDP members stall LS proceedings on farmers' issue

TDP members stall LS proceedings on farmers' issue
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, DEC 18: Agitated members of Telugu Desam, a key ally of ruling NDA, stalled proceedings in the Lok Sabha demanding admission of their motion on the plight of farmers' in Andhra Pradesh, forcing adjournment of the House for an hour.

Soon after the House assembled, TDP leader K Yerran Naidu demanded suspension of the Question Hour and admission of their notice for an adjournment motion saying that the condition of farmers in the state was pitiable and immediate steps be taken by the Centre to procure their produce.

They were supported by Congress and Samajwadi Partymembers with Deputy Leader of Congress Madhavrao Scindia seeking a statement from the Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs, Shanta Kumar.

The motion said that inspite of Centre's assurances, the Food Corporation of India's procurement of paddy and rice in Andhra Pradesh is very tardy, adversely affecting the interests of farmers in state and there was need for immediate central intervention to expedite procurement.

Repeated pleas by Speaker G M C Balayogi to members to raise the matter during Zero Hour failed to pacify the TDP members who raised slogans.

He asked them not to stall Question Hour and said they would have an opportunity to raise the matter after it.

Finding the TDP members unrelenting, Balayogi adjourned the House for an hour.

Opposition members accused the Centre of discrimination in the procurement of farmers' produce and warned that this would not be tolerated. RJD members too were in the well for sometime to highlight the problems faced by Bihar farmers.

In the Rajya Sabha, slogan shouting TDP members also tried to stall the proceedings by rushing to the well demanding remedial steps for redressal of Andhra farmers' problems but later resumed their seats.

TDP leader in Lok Sabha K Yerrannaidu sought admission of his party's notice for adjournment motion. After the Minister's response, he, however, did not not press it.

He said that the farmers were not getting minimum support price for rice and paddy even though the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had drawn attention of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Food Minister Shanta Kumar during his meetings with them.

Asking Government to respond, Yerrannaidu said that the Food corporation of India was not following the directive given by the Centre and the Chief Minister had written a letter to Prime Minister in this regard on Sunday.

He alleged that there had been a meagre procurement of only 3.86 lakh tonne this month.

Shanta Kumar assured TDP members that the paddy was being procured there on Punjab pattern and pointed out that the central agencies had already procured 11,000 tonnes.