Uttar Pradesh: Priyanka Gandhi questions govt over farmer's death

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday cited a media report and called out the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for the death of the farmer in the prison. This farmer was arrested because of the non-payment of a hefty electricity bill. She urged the government to compensate the farmer’s family. She reiterated through her tweet that the things that happened to this farmer are “condemnable”. 

Her tweet supporting the farmers, translated to "The UP's BJP government raised electricity prices and farmers are being tortured by putting them in jail in the name of recovery of electricity bill. The incident that happened to a farmer from Budaun, Brijpal. It is condemnable. His family should be compensated, and no farmer should be tortured”.  

Read: UP Farmers protest: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacks BJP government

The electricity tariff hike

According to media reports, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) at the start of September approved up to 12% increase in power tariffs for various consumer categories. The older rate for the first 150 units used was ₹4.90 per unit but after the changes, it has been increased by 12% to ₹5.50 per unit. 

Read: BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadoria asks Centre to fulfill farmers' demands

Priyanka: Why farmers are not allowed to protest?

Priyanka Gandhi, earlier, criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led the Central government for stopping the farmers from entering the national capital to raise their demands. She also tweeted about the same concern. These farmers also marched to Delhi's Kisan Ghat and demanded pending sugarcane dues, loan waivers, and cheap electricity. Barricades were put across the roads in a bid to strengthen the security at the East Delhi's Ghaziapur border to stop the agitating farmers from reaching Delhi. 

Read: 'Moti Bagh' documentary on Indian farmer's life gets Oscar nomination

Her tweet said, “What is the reason that farmers are being prevented from coming to Delhi and raising their demands? The BJP government, in its campaigns, talks about the welfare of farmers. But when farmers of Uttar Pradesh say they want sugarcane arrears, loan waiver and cut in electricity prices, why are they not allowed to speak?" 

Read: UP Farmers march to Delhi's Kisan Ghat, Centre agrees to 5 demands

(With inputs from ANI)