Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Friday demanded that the state government release a white paper with detailed statistics on paddy procurement. Denying claims by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy that 80% of paddy procurement had been completed, Rao said if the CM could prove his claims, he was ready to face any punishment. He asserted that field reports indicate only 30% procurement has been completed in the state.
Press Conference at Telangana Bhavan
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, KTR criticized the Chief Minister and ministers for spreading falsehoods about paddy and other crop procurement in the state. The BRS leader stated that he wrote an open letter to CM Revanth Reddy on paddy procurement after visiting several districts and witnessing the dire conditions of farmers at procurement centers. Instead of taking corrective steps, the CM and other ministers were making false statements and resorting to diversion tactics, he alleged.
Demand for Cabinet Discussion
KTR demanded that the government discuss paddy procurement in the cabinet meeting scheduled for Saturday. He accused the government of denying farmer suicides and deaths, despite providing information to the Civil Supplies Minister. He offered to provide details of farmers who died due to delayed crop purchases if needed. “Farmers across the state are protesting and staging demonstrations. There are no basic facilities at procurement centres, where farmers’ crops are either not weighed or subjected to unfair deductions,” the BRS working president said.
Protests in CM's Constituency
KTR noted that protests over procurement are occurring even in the Chief Minister’s own constituency of Kodangal. He accused the government of neglect in every aspect, from gunny bags to jute threads, and mentioned recent attacks and lawlessness. He urged the state government and opposition parties to recognize the crop purchase crisis and wake up from their slumber. He advised against ignoring ground-level issues with arrogance, simply because they are in power.
Warning from BRS
The BRS leader warned the government that if it fails to address crop procurement and take necessary actions, the BRS would exert pressure at the grassroots level and hold the Congress government accountable.
