KT Rama Rao blames Revanth Reddy’s reckless decisions for farmer suicides

No political agenda behind BRS constituting committee to study root causes of farmers’ distress, clarifies party working president

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday said all farmer suicides were government murders and blamed Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s reckless decisions and failure to fulfil promises to farmers as major causes for farmers committing suicide in Telangana. He made it clear that there was no political agenda behind the BRS constituting a committee to study the issue of farmer suicides, its sole aim was to stand by the farmers. Formed under the directive of BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao, the committee aims to meet the farmers directly and identify the root causes of their distress.

Speaking to the media after the first meeting of the study committee held at former Minister S Niranjan Reddy’s residence here on Wednesday, Rama Rao said the committee was set up in the wake of a tragic incident where a farmer took his life by consuming pesticide inside a bank in Adilabad. Starting its work on January 24 from Adilabad district, the committee will examine pressing issues such as the status of crop loan waivers, electricity supply, farming conditions, support prices, bonuses, procurement centres, and the functionality of Rythu Vedikas, among others, over the next month.

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“The committee will examine the ground-level challenges faced by farmers, analyse the causes of suicides, and submit its findings to BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, the State government and also the State Agriculture Commission,” he said.

The BRS working president pointed out that the Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi made several promises to farmers during the ‘Farmer Declaration’ event in Warangal including a Rs 2 lakh loan waiver, Rs 15,000 per acre as annual Rythu Bharosa farm assistance, support prices, bonuses, and setting up extensive purchase centres. “Believing these promises, farmers handed over power to the Congress party. However, the Congress has miserably failed to live up to its promises,” he added.

Drawing a contrast, Rama Rao said Chandrashekhar Rao was unparalleled among the current rulers when it comes to farmers’ welfare. He reminded that Chandrashekhar Rao boosted farmers self-confidence with revolutionary initiatives including Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, 24-hour free electricity, abolition of land revenue and water taxes, restoration of water bodies under Mission Kakatiya and construction of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS), Sitarama and also Palamuru Rangareddy LIS.

He said these measures had directly benefitted 70 lakh farmers, with Rs 1 lakh crore deposited into their accounts. He reminded that Telangana was recognised in the Parliament for significantly reducing farmer suicides.

The former Minister rubbished the allegations of the Congress government over the previous BRS government not issuing ration cards. He stated that rather than making it a grand affair, the previous BRS government obtained applications through Mee-Seva centres without much pomp and distributed over 6.47 lakh ration cards throughout its decade-long rule.

“Unlike the Congress government, BRS does not need exaggerated publicity. The current government lacks answers to people’s questions about loan waivers and Rythu Bandhu during gram sabhas. People are voluntarily questioning the government and staging flash protests,” he stated, adding that none of their party leaders are involved in these protests.

Rama Rao charged the Revanth Reddy’s government of neglecting public grievances while being busy filing illegal cases against opposition leaders and arresting people over social media posts. He remarked that while Revanth’s government prioritises formulas for cases against the opposition, BRS prioritises formulas for farmers.” he said.

He also thanked the Telangana High Court for allowing them to organise the BRS Rythu Maha Dharna in Nalgonda on January 28.