Opp stages walkout over non-payment of cane dues

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Raising the issue of private sugar mills in Muzaffarnagar, Congress legislator Pankaj Malik alleged that the mill management has disowned the tripartite agreement between sugar mills, cane farmers and district administration and is holding back nearly Rs 250 crore. He also demanded a ban on the sale of sugar from Maharashtra to control the decreasing sugar prices in the state. He suggested that any subsidy to sugar mill owners should be given only if they assure to clear farmers’ dues.

BJP MLA Laxmikant Bajpai said the state government should take stern action against the mill owners. “You are only arresting mill managers who get released. Arrest the seth (owner) of sugar mills and the sethani (his wife), they will pay the cane dues within 24 hours,” he said.

Bajpai claimed that Rs 6390 crore worth of cane dues is pending for the current year while Rs 650 crore is outstanding for last year. He also stated that last year, farmers were paid Rs 40 less on every quintal.

Bajpai also said that his colleague Vimla Solanki of Bulandshahr had informed that a private sugar mill owner who had purchased a government sugar mill for Rs 29 crore has closed the mill and is selling the land estimated at Rs 600 crore.

RLD leader Dalbeer Singh, too, demanded strict action against private mill owners.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan, however, claimed that large amounts of money have been paid to the farmers while some sugar mills have got a stay order from court, which is currently under examination and efforts are on to clear the cane dues.
Unsatisfied, BJP, Congress and RLD legislators staged a walkout from the Assembly while Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey dismissed the adjournment notice.

In the house

Attacking the BJP, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan claimed that anti-social elements are targeting animal traders by capturing their milch cattle and torching their vehicles. Azam termed them as ‘looterey’(robbers) who are breaking the law. The issue was discussed during the supplementary question raised by BJP’s Lokendra Singh over illegal slaughtering in the state. Animal Husbandry Minister Raj Kishore also targeted Hindu outfits claiming that people wearing saffron scarves and raising slogans of Bajrang Dal are engaged in capturing milch cattle. The minister also informed that an integrated agro milk project centre is being constructed at Bareilly for improvement of cattle breed.

Basic Education Minister Ramgovind Choudhary was caught in an awkward situation when he replied that the state government is providing iron tablets to end malnutrition among children across the state. BJP’s Radhamohan Das Aggrawal, a pediatrician in Gorakhpur, clarified the minister’s reply by saying that malnutrition occurs due to low protein; fat and calorie and iron tablets have no role behind it. Visibly upset, Choudhary claimed that the iron tablets are being given on the advice of doctors like Aggrawal and his department has no role in it.

BSP’s Neeraj Kushwaha stated that DM of Shahjahanpur is asking for donation from public representatives to end malnutrition from the district. Minister Choudhary informed the House that a state-level nutrition mission has been constituted and budget has been allocated for it.

In reply to a question, Dairy Development Minister Rammurti Verma informed the House that UP has taken a loan of Rs 265770.78 crore from the central government and other financial institutions. During 2014-15, Rs 18636.80 crore were paid as interest on the loan. The minister also stated that the loan is not utilised for salaries but for development projects of the state. He also informed that in any financial year, a loan upto three per cent of the Gross Domestic Product can be taken by the state government.

The state Assembly passed the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Tribunal) (Amendment) Bill-2015 by voice vote. The amendments include ? omission of words ‘for at least two years’ from the sub section which states that ? a person shall not be qualified for appointment as Vice-Chairman (Administrative) unless he has held the post of an administrative member or has for at least two years held the post of additional secretary to the Government of India or any other post under the central or state government. The other amendment has changed the qualification of additional secretary to joint secretary. BJP’s Radhamohan Das Aggrawal, while presenting the cut motion, stated that the amendment is being done to benefit a particular person and qualifications will be tailor-made for him. Azam Khan, however, claimed that it is being done for better availability of officers for the tribunal. Congress MLA Nadeem Javed, too, opposed the amendment which was notified earlier.