Farmer walks barefoot, carries paddy sacks in pushcart to protest procurement delays in Telangana

A farmer in Yadadri Bhongir district staged a unique protest against delays in paddy procurement by pushing sacks on a cart from Kolanupaka to Alair market yard. He alleged government negligence and exploitation of farmers by middlemen and millers

Nalgonda: A farmer staged a novel protest in Yadadri Bhongir district against delays and hardships in paddy procurement during the ongoing procurement season.

Despite the scorching heat, K Mahipal Reddy walked barefoot, dressed in a turban, vest and dhoti, while pushing a cart loaded with paddy sacks from Kolanupaka to the market yard in Alair.

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The farmer said he was protesting what he described as the Congress government’s apathy towards farmers.

According to the farmer, the State government had cited shortage of hamalis (labourers) and trucks as reasons for delays in procurement operations. The pushcart was decorated with placards accusing the government of negligence and urging Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to procure farmers’ stocks without delay.

The unusual protest drew attention from passersby, with several people stopping to interact with Mahipal Reddy, while others photographed and recorded videos of the demonstration. Some also joined him in pushing the cart as a gesture of solidarity. After reaching Alair market yard, Mahipal Reddy unloaded the sacks himself.

In a video circulating on social media, he alleged that farmers were suffering due to government negligence and claimed that rice millers, middlemen and officials had formed a syndicate to exploit the farming community.