Harish Rao sets Dasara as deadline for crop loan waiver; Warns to besiege Secretariat with farmers
He pointed out that Revanth Reddy, who had claimed that the loan waiver would be his first action upon assuming office, is yet to fulfill this key promise
Hyderabad: In a fresh ultimatum to the Congress government, former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao has set the upcoming Dasara festival as a deadline for implementing complete crop loan waiver across the State.
If failed, he warned that the BRS will lead State-wide protests, storm Hyderabad with scores of farmers and lay seize to the State Secretariat.
Participating in the farmers protests at Nangunur mandal headquarters in Siddipet district on Friday, Harish Rao charged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy with betraying farmers by failing to deliver on his election promise of waiving off loans up to Rs 2 lakh.
He pointed out that Revanth Reddy, who had claimed that the loan waiver would be his first action upon assuming office, is yet to fulfill this key promise.
“If the Congress is serious about helping farmers, it should implement the loan waiver without further delay. We will not rest until these promises are fulfilled,” he declared. Due to the Congress government’s inefficiency to provide financial assistance, he said farmers were struggling to secure crop investment.
The BRS leader did not hold back in his criticism of Revanth Reddy, accusing him of offering empty promises and failing to act.
“Revanth Reddy said loans would be waived with his first signature, but farmers are still waiting. This is not leadership; it’s betrayal,” he remarked.
Pointing out inconsistencies in the Congress government’s financial commitments, Harish Rao said the projected Rs 49,000 crore loan waiver has now been reduced to Rs 17,000 crore, with many farmers left in the lurch.
“In Nangunur alone, 11,000 farmers applied for loans, but only 5,000 have received waivers. This disparity shows the Congress’s lack of commitment to its own promises,” he said.
In response to the Conrgess leaders’ remarks, the BRS legislator stated that he pledged to resign from his MLA post if the Congress government implemented the six guarantees it promised during the election campaign, including the loan waiver and Rs 4,000 pensions for senior citizens.
“The promises you made are more important than my MLA post. I’ll happily give up my position, if it means real help for the farmers. But the Congress government neither implemented complete loan waiver nor fulfilled all of its six guarantees,” he pointed out.
He stated that the Chief Minister is passing time by giving lame excuses, making baseless statements and spreading false propaganda, but failed to implement at least one of the electoral promises made to farmers in last 10 months.
“Neither I will rest nor will let you sleep peacefully, until all your promises are fulfilled,” he asserted.
Harish Rao said the Chandrashekhar Rao government provided Rythu Bandhu investment assistance to farmers without a break, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he said the Congress government had not only failed to provide enhanced Rs 7,500 per acre as promised for Yasangi (summer) season, but also failed to release funds for the current Vaanakalam (rainy) season. “For KCR, its farmers first,” he said.
The former Minister explained the dire situation farmers are facing under the Congress regime. He compared the current government’s failure to deliver on promises with the proactive measures taken by the previous K Chandrashekhar Rao-led administration.
“Under BRS, farmers were provided with 24-hour electricity, timely fertilisers, and financial assistance through schemes like Rythu Bandhu,” he reminded.
Harish Rao accused Revanth Reddy of being out of touch with rural realities, highlighting how former Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao improved rural infrastructure, including irrigation through Mission Kakatiya, which restored ponds and increased agricultural productivity.
He contrasted this with the current government, which he said has collapsed under the weight of its own false promises.
He accused Revanth Reddy of spreading false propaganda against the Kaleshwaram Lift Irriation Scheme and calling it a waste of public money.
He demanded the Chief Minister to explain how Godavari River water reached Mallanna Sagar and Ranganayaka Sagar, if it was true. He suggested the Congress government to focus on fulfilling its promises rather than spreading misinformation.
