BJP misleading people: Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday assailed the Bharatiya Janata Party, albeit without naming it, for “misleading the people” on the monetary relief given to farmers devastated by the unseasonal rains and hailstorm in the State. “I want to know how much money has been given by the Centre to the State and where the money has gone,” Mr. Yadav told journalists.

On money being available in the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), he reiterated that he should be told how much has been given by the Centre.

Stating that there is no bigger

chalu (street-smart) party [than the BJP], Mr. Yadav said a detailed report on the crop damage and the loss suffered by farmers has been sent to the Centre. “Several letters have been written to the Central government.” The Chief Minister said Rs. 2000 crore has been distributed to the farmers as relief and compensation by the State from its own resources.

Earlier he distributed cheques for Rs. 7 lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of 51 deceased farmers from eight districts, from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

Mr. Yadav said this was the first time that the farmers and their family members had been called to the Chief Minister’s official residence. “Ours is a democratically-elected government and if the benefits of the welfare programmes percolate down to the grassroots, the State will progress.”

Since it was not possible for him to go everywhere, the dependents were called to Lucknow.