Nalgonda MP N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday demanded that the State Government immediately release the financial input to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme for the Kharif season, which already began across Telangana State.
Addressing a series of meetings in different villages in Huzurnagar constituency in Suryapet district on the 14th day of Rachabanda/Rythu Bharosa Yatra, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Rythu Bandhu payments are usually done on June 1. However, this time, their release is getting delayed due to a financial crunch. “The State Government must explain the reasons for delay in release of Rythu Bandhu funds. The sowing for Kharif season will start soon and the farmers have no resources to pool investment,” he said and demanded that the Rythu Bandhu funds be given immediately without further delay.
He also said the Congress party would launch massive agitation on behalf of farmers if funds are not released on time. “This is the ideal time for the State Government to provide Rs 5,000 per acre to all farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. The timely disbursal of money will help the farmers in purchasing seeds, fertilizers and other related activities. The delay in release of the Rythu Bandhu amount will force thousands of farmers to borrow loans from private money lenders at high interest rates,” he added. The Congress leader also condemned the ongoing ‘war of words’ between Union Ministers Amit Shah and G. Kishan Reddy with IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao on social media platforms and alleged that it was aimed at diverting people’s attention from real issues.
“BJP and TRS are ruling parties and their ministers must learn to communicate officially through proper channels. Since both the parties are not interested in asking questions or finding answers regarding Telangana, their leaders are communicating with each other through social media posts,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said while addressing a series of meetings in different villages in Huzurnagar constituency in Suryapet district on the 14th day of Rachabanda/ Rythu Bharosa Yatra. Uttam Kumar Reddy ridiculed Minister KTR for posting a Tweet regarding the funds given by the Central Government to Telangana in the last eight years. “Instead of a Tweet, KTR should officially release a White Paper on Central funds received so far. He should also give a complete break-up of Rs 1,68,000 crore received from the Centre, along with the details of their utilisation. Similarly, instead of speaking in a public meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah should release the complete break-up of Rs 2,52,000 Crore which he claimed has been given to Telangana in the last eight years,” he added.
The Congress MP said there was a huge difference of Rs 84,000 Crore in the figures being quoted by Amit Shah and KTR, the top ministers in BJP Govt at the Centre and TRS Govt in Telangana. It is quite clear that either Amit Shah or KTR are lying about the Central funds. “Let both the ministers release a White Paper to clear the confusion as people have a right to know the truth. Levelling allegations through social media will only mislead the people although it could fetch some publicity for BJP and the TRS,” he said.
“Although Kishan Reddy belongs to Telangana, his statements through mainstream and social media show that he was more interested in defending the BJP party than advocating State’s interests,” he said. He said BJP and TRS Ministers have set a wrong precedent of communicating through social media. “Differences between the Centre and States are quite natural in a federal structure like India. Instead of entering into a confrontation mode, the Centre and State Governments must explore ways to resolve the differences. However, both BJP and TRS ministers are more interested in hitting media headlines than finding solutions. Both the parties have been in power for the last eight years. Further, Amit Shah and KTR are senior ministers and they must be aware of all the paraphernalia of funds. They must hold a government-to-government dialogue instead of indulging in the vicious cycle of ‘allegations – counter allegations’,” he added.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said there has been a tremendous response to the Warangal Declaration unveiled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on May 6. Through Raithu Rachabanda/Rythu Bharosa Yatra, he said the Congress cadre has been enlightening the farmers that the Congress party if voted to power in the next Assembly elections, would waive off crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh in a single take, provide Rs 15,000 per acre financial input annually and give other sops.
