Mahrajganj: Accusing Chief Minister Mayawati of ignoring interests of farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) President Mulayam Singh Yadav Thursday said if his party was voted to power, agricultural loans of upto Rs 50,000 would be waived off.

Addressing an election rally here, Yadav said that BSP had ignored the interests of farmers in the state who constituted about 72 per cent of the population.

"If Samajwadi Party is voted back to power we will immediately waive off farmers' loan upto Rs 50,000," he said adding small traders would also benefit under the scheme.

The former chief minister reiterated the promise of unemployment allowance and financial assistance to girls who, after passing class Xll, opt for higher education and exhorted his supporters to "come out in large numbers on the polling day and help the SP to form its government with an absolute majority".

"As soon as the SP comes to power, we will declare a number of backward castes like Bind, Nishad, Kahar and Kolas as Scheduled Castes so that they can enjoy the facilities reserved for the category and get a better chance to improve their lot," the SP supremo said to a round of loud applause.

"Though lakhs of Muslim craftsmen are employed in building our houses, they themselves are forced to live in inhuman conditions," Yadav said adding that for those in the state who cannot afford medical expenses on heart, kidney or liver ailments which is sometimes as high as Rs 2 to 3 lakh, "we have decided to provide free medical facilities".

PTI