Karimnagar: Finance Minister T Harish Rao came down heavily on BJP candidate for Huzurabad by-poll Eatala Rajender on Saturday, questioning him for his statement that he would bring down the TRS government in Telangana State. “Why is Rajender so keen on bringing down the State government that was providing Rs 2,016 pension, Rs 10,000 to […]
Karimnagar: Finance Minister T Harish Rao came down heavily on BJP candidate for Huzurabad by-poll Eatala Rajender on Saturday, questioning him for his statement that he would bring down the TRS government in Telangana State.
“Why is Rajender so keen on bringing down the State government that was providing Rs 2,016 pension, Rs 10,000 to farmers under Rythu Bandhu scheme, 24-hour free power supply to the agriculture sector and Kalyana Lakshmi to the families from weaker sections for the marriage of their daughters?” Harish Rao, who was addressing an election campaign in Nagampeta of Jammikunta Rural mandal, wondered.
He said while the State government was protecting the interests of farmers and other sections of society through its schemes, the BJP government at the Centre was imposing a huge burden on farmers by increasing the prices of diesel and petrol. Referring to a Union Minister’s comment questioning the impact of fuel price increase on the common man, Harish Rao, expressing surprise, said diesel was an essential item for farmers to till their lands with tractors, harvest crops with harvesters and other agriculture-related works.
In the last Vaanakalam season, farmers had to spend Rs 3,000 to till one acre of agricultural land with tractor, and that had surged to Rs 5,000 this season because of the hike in fuel prices. “Women too are facing severe hardships due to the surge in price of cooking gas. Not satisfied with the hike in fuel prices, the Centre is considering fixing meters on agriculture pump sets, abolish markets and avoiding procurement of common variety paddy,” the Minister said.
“When I appealed to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy to reduce the prices, he said fuel prices surged due to an increase in the rate of crude oil in the international market. I invited Kishan Reddy to a debate on diesel and petrol prices, but he failed to turn up,” he said, adding that Rajender, who was deploying one functionary from the Centre every day, also failed to turn up even 10 days after the challenge for a debate on his statement that the State government was collecting Rs 291 tax on cooking gas.
“Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao was implementing various schemes for the welfare of all sections of the society. Despite the Covid pandemic, the State government had disbursed Rs 7,500 crore towards Rythu Bandhu in the bank accounts of farmers for Vaanakalam season. It was Chandrashekhar Rao who has brought Godavari waters to drought-prone areas by completing Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme,” he said.
‘BJP has no right to seek farmers’ votes’
Hyderabad: Finance Minister T Harish Rao on Saturday said the BJP had no right to seek votes from farmers since the BJP government at the Centre was harassing them.
In an open letter to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and BJP State president Bandi Sanjay Kumar that was also released to the media here, Harish Rao listed out 15 questions.
Harish Rao found fault with the Union government for its indifferent attitude to the demands of farmers who have been waging a battle for the last one year. No case was registered against the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra whose son who is an accused in the death of four farmers who were mowed down by a car in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh.
Few months ago, BJP candidate for Huzurabad by-polls Eatala Rajender had also opposed anti-farm laws brought by the Union government. However, he changed his voice and was supporting farm laws after joining the BJP.
Though a huge quantity of maize crop is being produced in the country, the BJP government was doing injustice to farmers by importing the crop from other countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who waived lakhs of crores loan amounts of corporate companies, failed to waive the farm loan of a single farmer.
Though there was demand from all States for linking of MGNREGS programme with agriculture, the BJP government was least bothered about the issue. In this regard, State government has passed unanimous resolutions twice in the State assembly.
Though the Telangana government was constructing irrigation projects in the State by spending Rs 2 lakh crore, the Union government has not sanctioned a single rupee for the same, he alleged.
Despite requests by the State government on a number of times, the Union government failed to do justice to Telangaana by deciding the State’s share in Krishna waters. Moreover, Centre was playing a mute spectator role even though Andhra Pradesh was illegally taking away water from Krishna river.
While all governments were collecting taxes from the farmers, Telangana government created a record by paying taxes to farmers by abolishing all taxes.
The Minister said Telangana was the only State which was providing Rs 5 lakh insurance facility to the kin of the deceased farmers. No State in the country was providing 24 hours free current to the agriculture sector. Agriculture extension officers were appointed by forming a cluster for every 5,000 acres of land and constructed Rythu Vedhikas to unite farmers.
So far, Telangana government waived Rs 17,000 crore of farm loans. Informing that loans up to Rs 50,000 were already waived, he said the government was committed for waiver of farm loan up to Rs 1 lakh soon.
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