Lucknow:, Feb. 22 -- HT Correspondent

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday asserted that the interests of farmers and workers would be protected, and action would be taken against those working against them.

The issue came up following a question by Samajwadi Party member Pankaj Malik during Question Hour in the state legislative assembly.

Minister for parliamentary affairs Suresh Khanna said the state government was committed to watching the interests of workers and would not allow sugar mills to close. He said labourers were getting their wages and the sugar mills should be allowed to run.

"Industry faced closure in states like West Bengal. The mills have closed in Kanpur which was once known as another Manchester (Manchester of t...