Harish slams Congress over Rythu Bharosa, says govt betrayed farmers yet again

After securing power, the Congress government reduced the Rythu Bharosa scheme to just Rs 6,000 per acre per season, far below the Rs 7,500 per season they promised, says the former Minister

Hyderabad: Coming down heavily on the Congress government in the State for backing out on its guarantees, BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of betraying Telangana’s farmers with false promises.

The Congress, which came to power on the back of grand promises to increase investment support under Rythu Bandhu and provide Rs 15,000 per acre annually through its ‘Rythu Bharosa‘ scheme, has failed to deliver on its commitments.

---

Reacting to the Cabinet decision to give only Rs 6,000 per acre per season, he recalled that during the election campaigns, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had confidently proclaimed, “BRS is giving Rs 10,000 now; vote for us, and we will provide Rs 15,000.”

However, after securing power, the Congress government reduced the Rythu Bharosa scheme to just Rs 6,000 per acre per season, far below the Rs 7,500 per season they promised. This has led to widespread disappointment among farmers, who feel betrayed by the government’s inability to keep its word.

Unlike the acclaimed Rythu Bandhu scheme introduced by the BRS president and former Chief Minister, K Chandrashekhar Rao, which ensured inclusive support for all farmers, the current Congress-led Cabinet has ignored tenant farmers entirely.

Despite promising Rs 15,000 annually for both landowners and tenant farmers, the government has not addressed the issue in its discussions, he said. Harish Rao demanded immediate payment of the pending Rythu Bharosa for the rainy season and fulfilment of the promised Rs 15,000 per acre support for the Rabi season.

He also criticised the Congress’ loan waiver scheme, which has left out over half of the farmers, and the absence of the promised crop bonus and crop insurance. Telangana’s farmers, feeling deceived by the Congress government, are expected to respond strongly in due time.

The Congress has broken the trust of those who voted for them, and they will face the people’s verdict for their failures and dishonesty, he said.