During his Gujarat tour, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP government, accusing them of replacing non-violence with bulldozers in Uttar Pradesh. He also accused the BJP of conducting raids using the ED, Income Tax, and CBI, following the Congress path. Yadavs visit coincided with falling potato prices, causing difficulties for farmers in Uttar Pradesh.Akhilesh Yadavs Gujarat TourDuring his Ahmedabad visit, Akhilesh Yadav stated that the BJP government had forgotten the path of truth and non-violence advocated by Gandhi. He claimed the government defamed the Samajwadi Party by keeping criminals together. Yadav also stated that the BJP government would have to go through the Examination in Democracy, as ED stands for.Akhilesh Yadavs Attack on BJPs Potato PolicyAkhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav criticised the Yogi governments potato policy. They claimed that the governments decision to purchase potatoes at Rs. 650 per quintal was insufficient and would have to change.Potato Production in Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh is the largest potato-producing state in India, with potato cultivation taking place on approximately 6.1 lakh hectares of land. The previous year, the state produced 147.77 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes. This year, potato production is estimated to be more than 242 lakh metric tonnes, leading to falling prices due to the non-availability of space in cold storage facilities.Impact on Potato FarmersPotato farmers in Uttar Pradesh are facing difficulties due to falling prices. The early crop of potatoes decreased, leading to potatoes reaching the mandis due to the non-availability of space in cold storage facilities. This led to a drop in the potato rate, adversely affecting the livelihoods of lakhs of farmer families who rely on potato cultivation.Governments ResponseThe government has instructed the UP State Horticulture Cooperative Marketing Federation to set up purchase centres in seven districts in the first phase. Additionally, video conferencing with cold storage operators has taken place to ensure no issues with the storage of potatoes.ConclusionAkhilesh Yadavs attack on the BJP governments potato policy highlights the challenges faced by potato farmers in Uttar Pradesh. The governments response is a positive step, but more needs to be done to support struggling farmers.
