Now, JP To Fast For Farmers

Lok Satta Party (LSP) President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be fasting from 19th to 23rd May in Vijayawada, in an attempt to draw the attention of the government to the plight of the farmers.

It has been reported that farmers from the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will also attend this event being hosted by the LSP, along with the agriculturists of Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan had met Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on 11th May, requesting the latter to lead an all-party delegation to New Delhi and ask the Centre to permit the state to export its rice. The former IAS officer suggested that the profits reaped by exporting rice could be shared with the farmers in the form of bonuses.

The CM's reply to Narayan's suggestion is unknown.

The coming week is replete with various political leaders organising events dedicated to the cause of the state's farmers. The Kiran Kumar Reddy government will have to appease 3 parties - Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress Party and Lok Satta Party - over the 3-month-old issue of farmers being unable to get the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their paddy.