Farmers stage rasta roko across Warangal against delay in crop procurement

Farmers across erstwhile Warangal districts staged protests, including rasta roko and dharnas, against delays in maize and paddy procurement. They accused the Congress government of neglecting farmers, citing corruption in procurement centres and unfulfilled promises made during Rahul Gandhi’s Farmers’ Declaration.

Warangal: The farming community took to the streets at different places in erstwhile Warangal district on Tuesday in protest against the delay in maize and paddy procurement.

A rasta roko was staged at Gudepadu crossroads in Atmakur mandal of Warangal district. Former Parkal MLA Challa Dharma Reddy took part in the protest and accused the Congress government of subjecting farmers to severe hardships. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy would face the consequences in the days to come for neglecting the farmers, he warned.

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He earlier visited Gudepadu market and interacted with farmers. Farmers complained even after 20 days passed since they brought maize to the market, the produce was not weighed and officials were demanding bribes during the procurement process.

Dharma Reddy stated that although four years have passed since Rahul Gandhi held the ‘Farmers’ Declaration’ meeting in Warangal, the government has failed to implement the six guarantees and promises made to the farming community.

In a similar protest maize farmers staged a dharna on the Mahabubabad–Thorrur main highway at Nellikudur in Mahabubabad district over the delay in the procurement process. Even as the purchase centre opened a month ago, procurement has not yet begun, they complained.

Likewise farmers led by Jangaon Rythu Bandhu Samithi former district president Irri Ramana Reddy staged rasta roko on the main road at Bachannapet in Jangaon district. The Congress government has completely failed to prioritise the welfare of farmers, he noted.