BJP reaches out to farmers for full house at PM's rally

LUCKNOW: In a bid to ensure that PM Narendra Modi's rally in Shahjahanpur on Saturday is a huge success, UP BJP pressed its organisational machinery to organize farmers' conventions in 360 rural assembly constituencies in the state over past few days to propagate the initiatives of NDA government for farming community.
The conventions, named 'Kisan Kalyan Sammelans', were aimed at striking a connect with farmers ahead of Lok Sabha elections besides urging them to attend PM's rally.
UP BJP Kisan Morcha chief Chaudhary Raja Verma confirmed to TOI that the conventions being organised in rural areas aimed at reaching out to farmers after Centre's recent announcement of hike in minimum support price (MSP) of 19 crops and Rs 20 increase in the fixed remunerative price (FRP) of cane. The farmers were also told about the initiatives taken by Yogi Adityanath government, he said.
Special emphasis was laid on cane growers, specially those in west UP, where mounting cane arrears were seen one of the reasons for BJP's defeat in Kairana and Noorpur byelections, he added. The ruling party is keen on placating cane-growers as their arrears still hover around Rs 12,000 crore, sources said.
Chaudhary said that the party expected lakhs of farmers to attend the PM's rally in Shahjahanpur which is centrally located in UP. "The BJP government has been working to increase the income of farmers and bring prosperity to them and to the state," Chaudhary said.
The BJP unit is also planning to organise Krishi Rishi Parampara Sammelan in at least six districts before 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
BJP decided to fan out its workers to reach out to farmers as the opposition is seeking to corner the government on farming issues. The Congress party had supported the 10-day nationwide protest by farmers starting from June 1 over their demands like full loan waiver, implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations and better price for agriculture produce.