Clarify stand or apologise, CM KCR to Bandi

Hyderabad: TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao lambasted the BJP State leadership for making statements contradictory to the Centre on paddy procurement and misleading farmers to cultivate paddy during the upcoming Yasangi season. He demanded that BJP State president Bandi Sanjay must own his statement and take the responsibility of convincing the Centre […]

Hyderabad: TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao lambasted the BJP State leadership for making statements contradictory to the Centre on paddy procurement and misleading farmers to cultivate paddy during the upcoming Yasangi season.

He demanded that BJP State president Bandi Sanjay must own his statement and take the responsibility of convincing the Centre to purchase the entire paddy crop from Telangana or extend an unconditional apology to the farmers of Telangana for misleading them.

---

Speaking to media persons after the TRS Legislative Party meeting at Telangana Bhavan, Chandrashekhar Rao explained that Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy appealed to farmers not to cultivate paddy for Yasangi season as the Union government did not clarify its plans for paddy purchases and suggested them to cultivate alternative crops. But BJP State president Bandi Sanjay asked farmers to cultivate paddy during Yasangi season, promising that he would ensure that the State government would purchase paddy. “The BJP leaders cannot escape from their responsibility by making misleading statements and creating confusion among farmers. We will fight on all possible avenues until the Centre clarifies on paddy procurement,” he said.

The TRS president said Sanjay went to the paddy procurement centres and spoke rubbish without giving clarity on the issues raised by the State government or farmers who questioned him during his visit. He questioned the purpose of Sanjay’s visit to the procurement centres unless the BJP was planning to create a ruckus that could lead to uncertainty in the State. While farmers were staging peaceful protests, he said the BJP activists were attacking them with stones and sticks. “How can such attacks be justified? They termed people who questioned them as anti-nationals. Now, they are attacking farmers who were protesting,” he said.

Citing the Union government’s lack of response to the protests of farmers on the outskirts of Delhi even after a year, Chandrashekhar Rao doubted if the Centre would respond to their protests either. He pointed out that the BJP leaders drove a vehicle killing farmers who were protesting in Uttar Pradesh and similarly, were attacking the farmers who were protesting in Telangana. “This is not politics. The people of Telangana or the State government will not tolerate it if the BJP leaders continue to resort to violence. We will take stringent action if the law and order situation goes out of control. Cases have been already filed against those involved in violence against farmers in Nalgonda,” he said.

Responding to the Opposition’s criticism, the Chief Minister assured that the State government will procure the entire paddy crop for the Vaanakalam season through nearly 6,600 procurement centres, as was promised. He also assured to clear all payments pertaining to the paddy procured for the season. The State government will release the Rythu Bandhu funds for the Yasangi crop season without fail. After the demonstration on Friday, the State government will wait for the Centre’s response failing which it would suggest alternative crops to farmers for cultivation during Yasangi season.

He rubbished the argument that TRS was mobilising its cadre to protest against Bandi Sanjay’s visit at paddy procurement centres. He stated that most of the 60 lakh members of TRS, were farmers and they were only questioning the BJP leaders seeking clarity over paddy procurement by the Centre. The TRS president made it clear that the party’s elected representatives will continue to fight against the Centre on the issues pertaining to the new farm laws and electricity laws which were detrimental to the interests of farmers.

---

Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.

Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .

---