Lucknow, Apr. 11 (ANI): Releasing the Samajwadi Party’s manifesto in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow on Saturday, party chief and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav promised to improve the plight of farmers.

Yadav has been consistent in his demand that the Central Government should waive off farmers’ debts.

In the recent past, he said: “We have no hope from the Uttar Pradesh government’s forthcoming budget. Asking banks to lower interest rates would not solve the problem; suicides can only be stopped, once the farmers get loan waivers and are saved from debt burden.”

“They should also be provided with proper irrigation facilities, electricity, and insecticides, in time and loans at very low interest rates,” he added.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau data, Maharashtra is ahead of all others in the farmers’ suicide cases.

In last year, the rise in farmer suicides in Maharashtra is four and a half times higher than Andhra Pradesh.

The latest data from the NCRB show that Maharashtra recorded 4,453 farmer suicides, higher than any other state.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences figures suggest that around 150,000 farmers have committed suicide over the past 10 years as they could not repay debt owed to money-lenders He said that if his party were voted back to power in the state, it would also tackle the problem of unemployment through various development-related schemes.

The SP chief also stated that solving the problems of hunger and corruption would be at the forefront of his party’s agenda.

Singh said his government in Uttar Pradesh would snatch away the extra wealth of persons whose finances exceeded their incomes.

On the issue of terrorism, the former chief minister said that it is important to improve relations with neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to crush the menace.

“The Samajwadi Party will focus on increasing security at the borders and ensuring that India has better policies with regard to neighbours like Pakistan and Bangladesh so that the three countries develop together,” Mulayam Singh told reporters.

“The basic cause of terrorism lies in regional differences. The forums across the world which deal with the issue of terrorism work on the behest of America. If a government comes to power with our support, we will ensure that action is taken against communal powers and attack terrorism at its roots,” he said.

“Previous governments have promoted forward trading, share trading and mall culture. Any government formed with our support will either reduce or stop it completely,” he added.

Samajwadi Party leaders Sanjay Dutt and Amar Singh were also present on the occasion.

The manifesto states that the party will tackle issues of unemployment, education, corruption, environment, and reservation for backward classes, minorities and tribals. (ANI)