Opposition members walk out of UP assembly alleging disregard for sugarcane farmers

Opposition Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress Wednesday staged a walkout from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, alleging that the state government was not serious about paying dues of sugarcane farmers. The matter on nonpayment of sugarcane dues was raised during the Question Hour by Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu and other members of the opposition.

Minister for Sugar Industries and Cane Development Suresh Rana said a total payment of Rs 6,054 crore of various crushing seasons was pending. "For 2017-18 crushing season, 97 percent payment has been made and Rs 1,053 crore is left. Our government is committed for the farmers' interest and has made record payment of Rs 34,411 crore till date in 2017-18 after formation of the Yogi Adityanath government in the state," the minister said.

Giving figures, he said in 2014-15 a payment of Rs 20,623 crore was made while in 2015-16, Rs 18,003 crore was paid, in 2016-17 a Rs 25,338 was paid. Under the present government maximum payments were made to cane growers, Rana claimed.

However, opposition members alleged that the government is not serious and not concerned about paying sugarcane farmers their dues. Leader of Opposition and Samajwadi Pary (SP) leader Ram Govind Chowdhury and Bahujan Samaj Party's Lalji Verma said they wanted to know in how much time the entire payment will be made to farmers.

Unsatisfied with the reply, they staged a walkout. Congress members wanted to know whether there was any scheme to reopen 36 closed sugar mills. They entered the Well of the House and when Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit said they will not be heard from Well they too staged a walkout. Later, Rana claimed that between 2007-2012 - the BSP tenure - 19 sugar mills were closed and between 2012-17 - during the SP's government -10 mills were closed. The BJP government is making attempts to reopen the closed mills, he said.

(With inputs from agencies.)