BRS demands urgent paddy procurement by May 31

BRS leader T Jeevan Reddy criticised the Congress government for neglecting farmers during the paddy procurement crisis, demanding immediate procurement by May 31 and compensation for families of farmers who died at procurement centres.

Hyderabad: BRS general secretary and former Minister T Jeevan Reddy lashed out at the Congress government for neglecting farmers amid the ongoing paddy procurement crisis.

He demanded that the entire stock of paddy in the State be procured by May 31, failing which the BRS would confront the government.

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“Without completing crop procurement, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will have no moral right to hoist the national flag on June 2 on the occasion of Telangana Formation Day,” he asserted.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Sunday, the BRS general secretary alleged that the issue was not even discussed in the recent Cabinet meeting despite severe distress among farmers.

He stated that farmers were incurring losses of nearly Rs 250 per quintal during procurement and termed it an R&R Tax’. He accused the Congress government of deceiving farmers without delivering promises, including the Rythu Bharosa scheme.

Stating that nearly 50 per cent of harvested paddy was still lying in threshing yards, Jeevan Reddy said farmers were suffering due to delays, unseasonal rains and inadequate crop procurement. He also demanded Rs 1 crore ex-gratia for families of farmers who allegedly died at procurement centres, while waiting for their turn.

The BRS leader criticised the Ministers for failing to visit procurement centres and accused the government of lacking planning in handling procurement operations.

He also supported BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao over his remarks that the proposed Future City will be scrapped and the Pharma City will be established as planned during the BRS government. He said the government was misleading people in the name of “Future City” projects.