Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Recovery of crop loans: Yechuri flays PM's announcement

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Nov. 14. Sitaram Yechuri, the CPI (M) Politburo member, criticised the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee's announcement on deferring recovery of crop loans of farmers in the 14 drought-affected States, saying it amounted to imposing an additional burden on them.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said the Centre's attitude in dealing with the drought was "inhuman''. Mr. Yechuri demanded waiving of the loans if not at least the interest for this year.

Also, the Government should treat the drought as a national calamity and release Rs.19,000 crores as aid to 14 States. It should also make available the required foodgrains to the States from the available stocks.

The CPI (M) leader found fault with the Centre for not calling a meeting to discuss the issue of National Calamity Fund under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani. "This is an inordinate delay and compounded the problems of farmers.''

Referring to the Election Commission's ban on the VHP's "Vijay yatra'' in Gujarat, Mr. Yechuri demanded its implementation both by the Centre and the State Government. While welcoming the ban, he pointed out that both the VHP and the Bajrang Dal were acting in a "brazen manner'' and "rousing passions'' ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

He said the VHP's announcement of defying the ban amounted to defiance of the law of the land. "The State Government should ensure that the Election Commission's directive is enforced. If there is any violation by the organisation it should be proscribed.''

When asked whether the party was demanding banning of the VHP, he clarified that it would be made when the ban was violated. Mr. Yechuri stated that the party suspected the BJP Government in Gujarat and the Centre would be soft towards the BJP's sister organisations like the VHP and not enforce the ban. "The governments are patronising the VHP and the Bajrang Dal'', he quipped.

Replying to a question on the CLP leader, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy's letter to the CPI (M) on free power supply to farmers, Mr. Yechuri stated that he could not go through it as he was touring. He supported free power supply to farmers owning less than five acres of land.

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