Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) said farmers should hold Congress leaders accountable if their crops are not procured, rather than pleading with them. He said farmers should question Congress leaders about their promises on bonus payments, procurement centres and support prices.
KTR's Allegations Against Congress Government
Addressing a party workers’ meeting in the Boath assembly constituency during his Adilabad tour, KTR alleged that the Congress government had abandoned Telangana’s farmers by deciding to limit crop procurement to quotas fixed by the Central government. He accused chief minister A Revanth Reddy of going back on his promise to procure every grain produced by farmers.
“Just days ago, Revanth Reddy assured farmers that his government would procure every grain. Today, he says the state will purchase only as much as the Centre permits. This is a complete betrayal of Telangana’s farmers,” KTR said.
Impact on Farmers
He alleged that the Cabinet’s decision to procure paddy, sorghum, pulses and soybean only within the Central quota framework would leave farmers at the mercy of private traders and force them to sell their produce at distress prices. “If a farmer produces 40 quintals of paddy and the Centre approves procurement of only 10 quintals, what happens to the remaining produce? Farmers cannot be abandoned after investing their labour, time and money,” he said.
BRS Agitation Warning
KTR warned that the BRS would intensify its agitation across Telangana until the government withdraws the decision and resumes procurement of every grain produced by farmers. He also alleged that the Congress government had failed to fulfil its promises of providing a ₹500 bonus and establishing adequate procurement centres, while reversing key farmer welfare initiatives introduced during the BRS regime.
Visit to Farmer's Family
Earlier in the day, KTR visited Ponn village in Sirikonda mandal of Adilabad district and consoled the family of farmer Pandurang, who allegedly died by suicide after failing to secure procurement for his sorghum crop. He handed over ₹3 lakh in financial assistance on behalf of the BRS and demanded that the state government immediately provide ₹25 lakh as ex gratia to the bereaved family and offer government jobs to Pandurang’s children.
