Sivaganga (TN): The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government is determined to improve the rural economy "which was ignored" by the previous NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today (Jul 30, 2004).

The Government had decided to extend various concessions to farmers and ensure development of the farm sector, he said at a meeting to thank voters of this constituency from where he was elected to the Lok Sabha in the recent polls.

Describing as 'a fraud', the "India Shining" campaign of the NDA, he said as against the allotment of Rs 80,000 crore toward farm credit made by the NDA Government, the new UPA Government had allocated Rs.1.50 lakh crore for the development of the sector.

Referring to the rout of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) combine in the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, he said, "The political revolution in the State turned into a storm, leading to the change of Government at the Centre."