Kishan Reddy wades into controversy over paddy procurement issue

Hyderabad: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy waded into a controversy when he maintained that the Central Government was procuring grains every year and that there was no issue regarding paddy procurement. His assertion made at a press conference in New Delhi is in stark contrast to Centre’s decision of not procuring paddy and refusing to […]

Hyderabad: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy waded into a controversy when he maintained that the Central Government was procuring grains every year and that there was no issue regarding paddy procurement. His assertion made at a press conference in New Delhi is in stark contrast to Centre’s decision of not procuring paddy and refusing to disclose the quantum to be procured.

Without commenting on the quantity of paddy to be procured by the centre from Telangana, he accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao of deliberately defaming the Central Government. TRS leaders were confusing the farmers with their statements and creating an issue out of paddy procurement, he said at the press conference, which drew a strong response from the Chief Minister at a post-cabinet meeting press conference held in Hyderabad on Monday evening.

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During his press conference, the Chief Minister listed out the contradictions the Centre was spreading and he urged the Union Minister Kishan Reddy to withdraw his comments and apologise to the farming community in Telangana.

Continuing his tirade on Telangana Government, the Union Minister urged the farmers to exert pressure on the State Government to expedite paddy procurement in the State. Sale of spurious and inferior quality seeds was continuing unabated and Telangana Government failed in curbing the menace, he charged.

The Chief Minister had vowed to transform Telangana into a grain warehouse but had failed on all fronts. Tenant farmers were facing lot of issues and the TRS Government failed to bail them out, he alleged. “The Chief Minister himself had agreed and written to Central Government that Telangana would not offer parboiled rice. Why cannot the State Government promote other varieties cultivation,” asked G Kishan Reddy.

Countering the State Government’s demand for a uniform national procurement policy, the Union Minister said Telangana Government lacked a clear policy or planning on agriculture. The Telangana Government was ever-shifting its stance on crop cultivation. At times, it promotes paddy cultivation and then wants extensive cultivation of cotton across the State, said the Union Minister.

Generally, during May month, farmers chalk out plans on crop cultivation. Unfortunately, State Government does not has such plans or vision, he accused. “Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is unable to digest BJP’s victory in Huzurabad by-poll. A conspiracy was being hatched to confuse the people, especially the farming community after the Huzurabad election,” Kishan Reddy said.

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