Harish Rao demands release of Rs 432 crore as bonus to farmers immediately

Rao recalled that Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy had promised to release the bonus within 48 hours of procuring the paddy. The former Minister wrote a letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to release the bonus amount to all the farmers without any delay.

Siddipet: Former Minister T Harish Rao lashed at the ruling Congress for failing to keep its promise of giving Rs.500 as bonus on fine rice varieties.

Speaking to news reporters in Siddipet on Sunday, Harish Rao said Rs.432 crore of the bonus was pending even after completing the procurement of paddy 48 days ago.

---

Rao recalled that Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy had promised to release the bonus within 48 hours of procuring the paddy. The former Minister wrote a letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to release the bonus amount to all the farmers without any delay.

He said the bonus for 8.64 lakh tonnes of fine rice was still pending. Citing the instances of farmers roaming around offices, he said the farmers at Muchinthala in Mahabubnagar district had met the Collector recently seeking the release of bonus. Even though the fine rice was being sold at Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,000 per quintal in the open market, farmers had sold it to the government’s procurement centres, hoping for the bonus. However, the Congress government cheated the farmers.

Harish Rao also recalled that the Congress actually came to power by promising bonus to all crops. He said the Congress had failed to complete the loan waiver as well besides breaking a host of promises made earlier.