Congress government conspiring to scrap Rythu Bandhu: BRS Leader Niranjan Reddy

"The Chief Minister is promising to give Rs 500 bonus for fine variety which approximately costs Rs 30,000 crore for the government, but struggles to even pay Rs 7,500 crore under Rythu Bandhu every season. They are deliberately dismantling the scheme while misleading farmers," he remarked.

Hyderabad: Former Agriculture Minister and senior BRS leader S Niranjan Reddy stated that the Congress government in Telangana is conspiring to scrap the Rythu Bandhu financial assistance to farmers altogether, under the guise of providing enhanced bonus for their produce. He charged the government with neglecting farmers, mismanaging resources and betraying promises.

Speaking at Telangana Bhavan following the Congress’s one-year rule celebration in Mahabubnagar, Niranjan Reddy expressed doubts about the Congress government continuing the Rythu Bandhu scheme, a flagship initiative of the previous K Chandrashekhar Rao administration. “The Chief Minister is promising to give Rs 500 bonus for fine variety which approximately costs Rs 30,000 crore for the government, but struggles to even pay Rs 7,500 crore under Rythu Bandhu every season. They are deliberately dismantling the scheme while misleading farmers,” he remarked.

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He also raised concerns over the government’s land acquisition policies, particularly in Lagacherla, accusing the Congress of targeting tribal lands under the guise of development. “If the government is sincere, why not utilise the 400-500 acres of land already identified by the previous BRS government for industrial projects? Why this fresh land acquisition under dubious pretexts?” he questioned.

The former Minister noted that the Chandrashekhar Rao government had transformed erstwhile Mahabubnagar district into a prosperous region, halting migration and ensuring irrigation projects were functional. He criticised the Congress for failing to operationalise the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme despite abundant rainfall this year. “Hundreds of TMCs of water flowed into the sea, yet not a single drop has been lifted for irrigation,” he said, adding that the project did not advance in last one year.

Niranjan Reddy also called out the Congress’s inability to stabilise crop prices or ensure fair remuneration for farmers. He pointed out the steep decline in cotton prices and the lack of government action to support maize farmers. “This government is suffocating farmers, while allowing middlemen to handle paddy procurement,” he said. He urged farmers to reject the Congress’s false promises and remain vigilant against policies threatening their livelihoods.