BRS stages protest in support of cotton farmers in Karimnagar

The BRS district unit in Karimnagar, led by MLA Gangula Kamalakar, staged a protest demanding immediate resumption of cotton procurement and withdrawal of the ginning mills strike. Kamalakar criticised the Cotton Corporation of India’s new guidelines that restrict tenant farmers from selling their produce without landowners’ thumb impressions.

Karimnagar: The district unit of BRS staged a protest in front of the Collectorate demanding both the State government and the Centre to take steps to resume cotton procurement by convincing ginning mills to withdraw their strike.

BRS activists led by local MLA Gangula Kamalakar staged a protest along with cotton bags and raised slogans against the State and Central governments.

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Kamalakar said the cotton farmers were facing troubles due to the negligent attitude of both the State and the Centre. Condemning the Cotton Corporation of India’s new guidelines imposing restrictions on procurement and setting new criteria for the same.

Earlier, there was a chance for tenant farmers to sell the crop in the market by producing a pattadar passbook and Aadhaar card of the land owner. According to the new guidelines, the land owner should place his/her thumb impression to book a slot for selling cotton.

Since 50 percent of cotton is produced by tenant farmers, the government should give an opportunity for tenant farmers to sell the crop, he said.

Stating that the cotton crop was damaged due to the recent heavy rains, he wanted the government to provide Rs. 10,000 as compensation to farmers. The BRS later submitted a representation to the Additional Collector.