Opposition stages walkout from UP Assembly over sugarcane dues issue
Opposition Samajwadi Party, BSP, and Congress today 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 non-payment of sugarcane dues was raised during the Question Hour by Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu and other members of the Opposition. Read the details here.
97% payment has been made, Rs. 1,053 crore left: Rana
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 the 2017-18 crushing season, 97% payment has been made and Rs. 1,053 crore is left," said the minister.
Made record payment of Rs. 34,411 crore till now: Rana
"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," Rana said. Giving figures, he said in 2014-15, payment of Rs. 20,623 crore was made while in 2015-16, Rs. 18,003 crore was paid, and in 2016-17, Rs. 25,338 was paid.
Government not concerned about paying sugarcane farmers their dues: Opposition
Under the present government, maximum payments were made to cane growers, Rana claimed. However, Opposition members alleged that the government is not concerned about paying sugarcane farmers their dues. The leader of Opposition and Samajwadi Party (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.
Congress members also walked out over number of closed mills
The BSP and SP leaders staged a walkout when they didn't get a satisfactory reply. Congress members wanted to know whether there was any scheme to reopen the 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.
BJP government making attempts to reopen the closed mills: Rana
Later, Rana claimed that between 2007-2012 (during the BSP tenure), 19 sugar mills were closed and between 2012-17 (during the SP government), 10 mills were closed. The BJP government is making attempts to reopen the closed mills, said the minister.
