Hyderabad: Union coal minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday accused the Congress government in Telangana of failing to procure paddy in time during the current Rabi season and attempting to shift the blame onto the Centre.
"How can the ruling Congress leaders criticise the central government for not procuring paddy from Telangana? The Centre agreed to purchase nearly 53 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy," he said during a media conference.
Kishan Reddy alleged that the state government had remained negligent towards procurement of paddy until the BJP MPs and MLAs conducted a tour of market yards as part of 'Rythu Gosa'. "Farmers were waiting at procurement centres and market yards for their paddy to be purchased. But the government delayed it and they were left vulnerable to unseasonal rains and the attempts of intermediaries to purchase the paddy at a low price," he stated.
He further added that the state government is securing inferior quality fine variety rice from other states and distributing it through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The good quality fine rice produced in the state is being sent to other states at a higher price, he claimed.
"Blaming the BJP government at the Centre has become a habit for the BRS and the Congress. Earlier, the previous BRS government used to blame the Centre for its inefficiency and failure to procure agricultural produce. Now the Congress government is indulging in the blame game," he added.
Kishan Reddy expressed willingness to help increase the quota of procurement of paddy by the Centre from Telangana. "The Congress had promised bonuses for 10 crops during elections, later restricted it to one crop, then to fine paddy, and now even Rabi farmers were reportedly not receiving the benefit," he claimed.
This development highlights the ongoing political tussle between the state and central governments over agricultural procurement policies, with farmers caught in the middle. The BJP leader's remarks come amid reports of delayed payments and logistical challenges in paddy purchase across Telangana's market yards.
