BJP wants government to bear 75 percent of crop insurance

Ranchi, July 4 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Saturday said the central government should bear 75 percent premium of the crop insurance cover for farmers to help them overcome drought conditions in many parts of the country.

'The small-scale farmers are unable to meet the crop insurance premium. We demand that the central government should bear 75 percent of it. Due to delayed monsoon, drought like situation is prevailing in many parts of the country,' Singh told reporters here.

Singh was taking part in the two-day BJP state executive committee meeting.

He addressed party workers and expressed happiness over the BJP's performance in the Lok Sabha elections in the state where it won eight of the 14 seats.

Singh demanded that Jharkhand be declared a drought-hit state.

He also charged the central government with failing to tackle the Maoist menace in the country.

'The central government has failed. It should take appropriate steps to deal with the problem. A social and political solution to the problem should be evolved,' Singh said.

Singh refused to comment on submission of the Liberhan commission report on the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.

'The details of the report have not been made public. I will not comment without going through it,' he said.

Singh said even though the party suffered reverses in the general elections this year, winning fewer seats than in 2004, 'the future of BJP is bright as the country is heading towards a bi-polar party system'.

He called for a dissolution of the state assembly and holding of fresh elections in the state.

Jharkhand is under President's Rule since Jan 19 this year and the state assembly is under suspended animation.

--IANS