PATNA, DEC 25: Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar today accused the Rabri Devi ministry and RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav of engaging in "petty politics" on problems facing the farmers and said the Samta party would expose the state government.Talking to reporters at the venue of a two-day dharna organised by Samata party to protest against alleged apathy of the state government towards addressing grievances of farmers and procurement of paddy, Kumar said it was not the centre but the Rabri Devi ministry which was responsible for the farmers' plight.
"Laloo is attacking the centre for what is actually the failure of the state government," he said adding that had the state government been serious, it would have by now sent a proposal to the centre for procurement of paddy and rice.
Refering to the RJD's announcement for launching `deshbachao, kisan bachao' movement from next month, the Agriculture Minister said it would be hard to associate Laloo with the movement.
"In fact, Laloo and movement cannot go together", here marked. more PTI AJK The agriculture Minister said the centre had for the first time set aside the standard for rice conversion rate from paddy in Bihar. He said the rice conversion rate from paddy had been reduced to 64 per cent from 67 per cent.
He said the centre had announced several concessions including opening of purchase centres in each district and the state government was supposed to send a proposal to the centre for admissible rates to the farmers for rice.
Kumar asserted that the centre had announced more concessions for farmers here than those of Punjab but the state government lacked the will.
Several Samata leaders including its state spokesman P K Sinha participated in the dharna which began today to protest against alleged anti-farmers approach of the RJD-Congress coalition ministry in Bihar.
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