‘Farmers’ land taken for rally only after paying crop price’
The Congress flayed the BJP for cutting standing crop to hold a political rally
VARANASI: The district administration on Monday said that the price of crops has been given to farmers for the land (fields) taken for an event (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Varanasi on October 25) near the ring road in Mehandiganj area of Varanasi.
Meanwhile, the Congress accused the BJP-led state government of cutting 40 beegha crop of farmers for the rally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally near newly-constructed ring road in Mehandiganj area of Varanasi and will inaugurate several developmental projects on October 25. For the event, the fields of some farmers have been taken near the ring road for the rally. The crop value has been given to the farmers for the standing crops. The crop was also harvested and was given to the farmers.
District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that for the land taken at the Ring Road event site, the crop price given to farmers was on the basis of the minimum support price (MSP) Rs1,940 (per quintal) and productivity.
“Cheques worth Rs 7 lakh of crop value are being given (to farmers). In addition, the crop was harvested and given to them. It (crop value) was calculated yesterday (on Sunday) and today (on Monday) NHAI is giving cheques to them,” Sharma said. A total of 30 gatas has been taken. Its area is 8.745 hectares.
Sharma said that some people have tried to spread rumours by creating confusion by tweeting on the issue.
Congress condemns cutting crops
Addressing a press conference, in Varanasi, on Monday, Ajai Rai said that around 40 beegha (around eight hectare) crop was standing in the fields near the ring road in Mehandiganj area of Varanasi.
The crop was almost ready to be harvested. But it was cut for the PM’s rally.
Rai said that the administration is paying the farmers the price of their crops. But cutting the crop for a political rally is not morally correct.
Rai said that there are several grounds in Varanasi. “The BJP, which calls itself ‘party with a difference’, could have chosen one of the grounds for the political rally, instead of the fields.
“But it didn’t hesitate in taking the fields for a political rally and got the crop cut which was standing in the fields,” he said.
He said that a smaller rally would not have diminished the political glory of the BJP.