Akhilesh lends an ear to BKU,promises to unveil Tikait’s statue

Minister today in Lucknow and invited him to unveil the statue. “The CM has given his consent to visit Sisauli on October 6 to unveil the statue,” Rakesh said. He said that Akhilesh has also assured him of

allotting a house in Lucknow for opening an office of the BKU.

During his one-hour meeting with BKU leaders,Akhilesh discussed farmers’ issues like waiving loans up to Rs 50,000,withdrawal of cases lodged against farmers during the anti-land acquisition agitation (in the BSP regime),availability of power for farmers in western UP,and farmers’ demand for allowing toll-free movement of tractors on the Yamuna Expressway.

“He wanted to know about the possible ways to stop the theft of power in western UP. I suggested him to regularise all the illegal power connections which farmers are using to run their tubewells ,” Rakesh said.

He said it was difficult for farmers to get power connections because of the lengthy formalities. He added farmers purchase electric wires,transformers and poles illegally from the power department and manage to get illegal connections.

“But they pay regular bribes to power department officials. If the state government asks them to deposit bills for six months in advance for regularising their connections,they would happily accept it,” Rakesh told the Chief Minister.

He claimed that the CM was impressed by his suggestions and immediately directed Principal Secretary (Energy) A K Gupta,who was present at the meeting,to look into the matter.

Rakesh said Akhilesh assured them that the service road along the Yamuna Expressway would be completed within six months. “This service road would be useful for farmers,although there is demand for exempting tractors from toll on the Yamuna Expressway,” he said. He said that the CM asked them for a list of farmers against whom FIRs were registered during the farmers’ agitation.

Sources in the ruling SP said the party wants to keep the BKU in good humour for expanding its base in western UP before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “Rakesh could be useful for SP to counter RLD president and Civil Avaition Minister Ajit Singh,” a source in SP said.