Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & MP Revanth Reddy has accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of putting the lives and livelihood of lakhs of Telangana farmers at stake by refusing to purchase crops in the Yasangi season.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Revanth Reddy slammed KCR for leaving the farmers in a state of confusion. “KCR is asking the farmers not to cultivate paddy. But he is neither suggesting an alternate crop nor giving an assurance of buying it at MSP. He even announced that there won’t be any procurement centres in the next season. He simply disowned all the farmers and left them to their fate,” he said.
The TPCC Chief asked CM KCR to explain whether or not an agriculture policy exists in Telangana. “TRS Govt is claiming that it had spent nearly Rs. 3 lakh crore to create irrigation facilities for 1 crore acres of land. KCR also claims that his government is providing water for every acre of land, free power and investment support through the Rythu Bandhu scheme. What is the use of all these things if the government is not willing to purchase the agricultural produce? Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy made an open statement in a press conference announcing that the Centre would not buy the crops in the Yasangi season. Now KCR too has disowned the farmers by saying that the State Govt will not buy crops from next season. What should the farmers do now?” he asked.
“When a Chief Minister is expressing helplessness in bailing out the farmers, then he has no right to remain on the post given to him by the people. KCR has no right to continue as CM and people will never forgive him for his mistakes which ruined the lives of lakhs of farmers,” he said.
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Revanth Reddy alleged that CM KCR was fully aware of conditions laid down by the Centre on the purchase of paddy in Kharif season by the Food Corporation of India in the month of August. However, KCR did not react till the end of harvesting while delaying all other processes involved in the purchase of paddy. The BJP and TRS Govt started the blame game when the harvested paddy reached the farm yarns and procurement centres for sale. “By refusing to purchase the produce, BJP and TRS Govts are making it inevitable for farmers to turn to corporate powers. Now the farmers will be forced to sell their crops to Adani and Ambani at whatever price they offer,” he said.
The TPCC Chief said it was highly unfortunate that Telangana, which is known as the Rice Bowl of Bowl, will not cultivate the paddy. He said KCR could not escape from his responsibility as the Chief Minister by asking farmers not to grow paddy. “If the Centre is refusing to purchase the crop, then the State Government must intervene by buying the produce to help the farmers,” he said.
He said that the government must provide all facilities and assure MSP if it was asking them to grow alternate crops. He said that the Congress Government in Chhattisgarh not only ensured MSP to the farmers but also provided a bonus when it suggested alternate crops.
Revanth Reddy alleged that KCR Government played similar stunts in the past by advising farmers against growing maize, sugarcane, and cotton. Now he is directing them not to cultivate rice. He said sugarcane farmers in Nizamabad and chilli farmers of Warangal and Khammam were humiliated when they asked for MSP. He said Girijan farmers in Khammam were implicated in false cases, arrested, and chained when they asked for proper remuneration for their produce.
Revanth dares KCR to stage ‘fast-unto-death’ in Delhi on farmers’ issue
The TPCC President challenged KCR to stage a ‘fast-unto-death’ at Jantar Mantar in Delhi if he was really serious about paddy farmers. Calling KCR’s call for battle against Modi Govt on farmers issue as fake and hollow, he said KCR must leave Hyderabad and begin his protest in the national capital. “Unlike Congress, KCR can never fight with the BJP head-on. He is afraid that the Modi Govt will begin investigation into his corrupt activities if he transforms himself into a rival instead of remaining a secret ally,” he said.
“When opposition parties, including the Congress, wanted a debate on the farmers’ issue during the repeal of three controversial farm laws, TRS MPs sabotaged the efforts. The entire opposition wanted a discussion on the law for Minimum Support Price, cases registered against farmers and compensation for the families of those who died during the agitation. But the TRS MPs came to the rescue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Govt by stalling the proceedings so as to facilitate the passing of repeal of farm laws without debate,” he alleged.
Revanth said that Congress and other opposition parties would’ve forced BJP Govt to apologize for the death of over 750 farmers during the agitation and pay compensation to their families. Further, the opposition would’ve forced the Modi Govt to announce the withdrawal of all cases registered against farmers during the agitation. But TRS MPs, as part of their joint strategy with the BJP, stalled the House facilitating the passing of repeal of farm bills.
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He said if the TRS was sincere, then why did it not issue a Whip asking all its MPs to be present in the House on Monday. He pointed out that three out of nine TRS MPs – Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, Maloth Kavitha, and P. Dayakar – were absent when the BJP Govt introduced the Bill to repeal the farm laws. The remaining MPs took a picture in the House to mislead the people as if they were genuinely fighting for the farmers.
The TPCC Chief alleged that the KCR family has acquired more wealth than the last Nizam of Hyderabad. Therefore, KCR will never dare to question the anti-farmer policies of the Modi Govt. “Modi Government was forced to repeal the black laws. But KCR is implementing all the provisions of repealed laws in Telangana State,” he alleged.
Revanth Reddy announced that the Congress party would not allow TRS-BJP Governments to exploit the farmers. “We will intensify our battle and will not rest until the Centre and State Governments purchase every grain produced by Telangana farmers,” he announced.
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