Harish Rao counters CM Revanth on partial crop loan waiver
The senior BRS MLA condemned the government’s handling of the loan waiver as deceitful, charging the Chief Minister with staging daily "dramas" while farmers suffered in financial distress
Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao launched a broadside against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for betraying Telangana’s farmers over the crop loan waiver and spreading false propaganda.
In a strong counter to Revanth Reddy’s claims of completing the Rs.2 lakh loan waiver, Harish Rao challenged the Chief Minister, stating that the majority of farmers were still awaiting the promised relief. He said as per the government’s statistics, only 21 lakh of 40 lakh farmers had benefited.
“If you have truly completed the waiver, let’s visit your native Kondareddypalli village to verify your claims,” he dared, asking Revanth Reddy to fix a date and time for the visit.
The senior BRS MLA condemned the government’s handling of the loan waiver as deceitful, charging the Chief Minister with staging daily “dramas” while farmers suffered in financial distress. He demanded an explanation for farmer suicides, including that of Surender Reddy in Medchal, questioning the government’s commitment to alleviating farmers’ debts.
He also ridiculed the Chief Minister’s promise to waive crop loans upto Rs 2 lakh, if amount excess than Rs 2 lakh is paid by the farmer. He pointed out that several farmers in his Siddipet constituency had paid their dues months ago but were still waiting for their loans to be waived. He dubbed the State government’s promises of bonuses for crops as “bogus,” accusing the administration of failing to provide timely Rythu Bharosa financial assistance during the monsoon season.
The former Minister criticised Revanth Reddy for breaking multiple promises, including the creation of two lakh jobs annually and returning Pharma City lands to the farmers. “Efforts are being made to use the Pharma City lands, to build a real estate venture titled Fourth City,” he said, stating that the Chief Minister was prioritising personal real estate interests over public welfare.
He also took aim at the Congress leaders’ contradictory statements regarding the Kaushik Reddy-Arekapudi Gandhi issue, accusing the party of manipulating narratives for political gain. “Congress leaders are confused and out of sync. While Minister D Sridhar Babu claimed that the issue was between two BRS MLAs, the Chief Minister today claimed that the Congress activists taught a lesson to the BRS leaders,” he remarked, advising the Chief Minister to focus on real governance rather than political theatrics.
In a personal jibe, Harish Rao hit back at the Chief Minister’s use of abusive language and his obsession with the former’s height. “Respect comes with dignity. But how can you command it when you have failed to fulfill your promises? By God’s grace and the people’s blessings, I stand taller than you – and you won’t reach my height with such a narrow mindset,” he said.
