Lok Sabha adjourned on fertiliser issue

An angry opposition today forced adjournment of the Lok Sabha demanding urgent steps by the government to ensure supply of fertiliser to farmers, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

An angry opposition on Tuesday forced adjournment of the Lok Sabha demanding urgent steps by the government to ensure supply of fertiliser to farmers, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

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Agitated members of SP, RJD, BSP, JD(U), CPI(M) and BJP took to their feet seeking immediate assurance from the government on the matter.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ram Kisun (SP) said that there was no fertiliser available in the markets of UP and its prices were sky-rocketing.

"Most of the stock was being sold in black-market and smuggled to Nepal," he alleged.

He was strongly supported by RJD leader and former Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh who said that the farming community was "facing a grave crisis as DAP fertiliser was simply unavailable".

The government has failed to provide any relief, Singh said and sought urgent steps to make available fertiliser to farmers in UP and Bihar. He was supported by members of other opposition parties.

Responding to the demand, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affair V Narayanasamy said he would convey the sentiments of the members to the concerned Minister. But this failed to pacify the opposition members.

Speaker Meira Kumar then called CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia to speak. But as the din continued, Kumar adjourned the House till 1400 hours.