All oppn parties to submit memo to PM on farmers' issue

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday stated the an all-party delegation would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state on October 19, and submit a report on farmers problems in the state and the violations of laws by the Micro Finance Institutions.

Talking to media persons after an all-party meeting convened at NTR Trust Bhavan, the TDP chief revealed that he would urge the Prime Minister to make a clear statement on interest rates of MFIs and steps for regulating their activities.

He called upon victims of MFIs to attack those firms which resort to violence in recovery of their loans with exorbitant interest rates. The former chief minister said all parties in state, except Congress, would extend their full support to the victims.

Mr Naidu added that the government issued the ordinance only as an eyewash and to divert the attention of people without mentioning about fixing interest rates.

He demanded the government pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation to next kin of victims of MFIs.

The former chief minister urged the government to provide space for storing foodgrains in warehouses and solve the problem of procuring grains with rice millers. 

He also urged the government to implement Swaminathan Commission Report on farmers’ subsidy and in fixing Minimum Support Price for farm produce in letter and spirit.

The TDP chief demanded imposition of ban on fertilizer mixing units as they would not serve any purpose to farmers.

The former chief minister also urged the government to provide a chance for farmers to sell their produce in any part of nation.

CPI state secretary K Narayana appealed to victims of MFIs not to take extreme steps and fight unitedly against them.

CPI(M) leader BV Raghavulu urged the government to take steps for protecting the interests of victims, who were abused by MFIs. The CPI leaders urged the RBI to make laws stringent before issuing licenses to MFIs.

Lok Satta Party president Jaya Prakash Narayan and Praja Rajyam Party leader Kanna Babu were also present at the all-party convention.