Congress favours beer firms over farmers, says Harish Rao

Former Minister T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of prioritising beer companies over farmers in Medak district. He criticised the crop holiday declared for 70,000 acres under Singur while water was assured to breweries.

Siddipet: Former Minister T Harish Rao on Thursday said the Congress government was giving priority to beer companies over paddy farmers in the erstwhile Medak district.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a red gram purchasing centre at the Siddipet market yard, he said the government had declared a crop holiday for 70,000 acres of ayacut under Singur in the name of repairs in Sangareddy and Medak districts.

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However, the same government had assured unlimited water supply to beer companies located in Sangareddy district, he said, pointing out that the Excise Secretary and Commissioner had recently visited the beer companies and directed them to enhance production to meet summer demand, assuring them of Manjeera water supply.

While the government ignored farmers’ demand for irrigation water for Yasangi (Rabi), water was being assured to beer companies as those in power would get commissions for the favour, he said, adding that the BRS government had never declared a crop holiday.

Highlighting what he termed the government’s apathy towards farmers’ issues, Harish Rao said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had promised Rs 10,000 compensation for crop loss after conducting an aerial survey during Vanakalam (Kharif), but no amount had been released so far. Rs 1,100 crore of the previous Yasangi paddy bonus was still pending, he said, stating that the government was focusing on harassing opposition leaders by issuing notices through the SIT for raising public issues, instead of resolving farmers’ problems.

Demanding immediate release of Rythu Bharosa, crop loss compensation and the pending bonus amount without delay, he urged the government to ensure availability of fertilisers, particularly urea, in the market. Interacting with the redgram farmers, he asked them to sell their produce at procurement centres instead of approaching middlemen, as the government had fixed a minimum support price of Rs 8,000.