BRS slams Revanth Reddy for misleading claims on Rythu Bharosa

BRS leaders criticised CM Revanth Reddy for misleading farmers with claims over Rythu Bharosa disbursement. Accusing the Congress of pre-poll appeasement, they warned of a possible rollback after elections and demanded clarity on loan waivers and irrigation projects

Hyderabad: Senior BRS leaders on Wednesday came down heavily on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, stating that he was misleading farmers with politically motivated claims over the disbursement of Rythu Bharosa financial assistance. They alleged that the Congress government, which has been releasing funds only during election seasons, may scrap the scheme entirely after the upcoming local body elections.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, former Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy questioned the Congress government’s intent behind the Rythu Bharosa disbursement, calling it a poll gimmick. He warned that the scheme might be discontinued after elections.

---

“This government has failed on all fronts and is making misleading claims. The Chief Minister and Agriculture Department must clearly explain their plan for the scheme’s implementation,” he demanded.

Niranjan Reddy pointed out the Congress party’s earlier criticism of the BRS government during the 2023 Assembly polls for extending Rythu Bandhu benefits to 70 lakh farmers, including non-cultivators. “But now, the same Congress claims to have credited Rythu Bharosa to 70 lakh farmers for the Vanakalam (Kharif) season. The government must clarify who was right, the BRS then or the Congress now,” he said.

Former Minister and senior MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy accused the Congress of under-delivering on its key poll promises. “The Congress owes over Rs 70,000 crore to farmers under Rythu Bharosa, crop loan waiver and the Rs 500 bonus for fine variety paddy,” he said.

He said the government needed Rs 44,000 crore to implement Rythu Bharosa over four crop seasons, but only Rs 19,000 crore had been released. He also countered the Chief Minister’s claims on crop loan waivers and bonuses.

“Only Rs 20,000 crore has been released for loan waivers, against the required Rs 44,000 crore. As for the Rs 500 bonus, Rs 21,000 crore is required, but only Rs 1,000 crore has been disbursed,” he said, accusing Revanth Reddy of misleading farmers with inflated claims.

Senior MLA Gangula Kamalakar challenged Revanth Reddy to complete the Tummidihatti project at its originally proposed height of 152 metres.

“Karimnagar is receiving water only once every four days. Telangana is drying up while water is diverted to Andhra Pradesh,” he said, demanding that the Centre grant national project status to Tummidihatti and begin work immediately.

He also took a swipe at Revanth Reddy’s self-comparisons with former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. “To be compared with KCR, Revanth Reddy needs a decade of honest governance and fulfilment of poll promises. So far, all we’ve seen is confusion and empty promises,” he said.