Make ryots atma nirbhar: CM KCR
Hyderabad: Welcoming Union government’s decision to repeal the three farm laws, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao demanded that the Centre bring in Minimum Support Price (MSP) Act, besides withdrawing cases booked on farmers and others who supported the agitation. He said since the beginning the Telangana government had been opposing the farm laws in both […]
Hyderabad: Welcoming Union government’s decision to repeal the three farm laws, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao demanded that the Centre bring in Minimum Support Price (MSP) Act, besides withdrawing cases booked on farmers and others who supported the agitation.
He said since the beginning the Telangana government had been opposing the farm laws in both the Houses and it was on record. “We have been questioning the Centre as to how a farmer from Telangana can go to New Delhi to sell his stocks,” said the Chief Minister.
He suggested that the Centre accord top priority to ‘Atma Nirbhar Kisan’ (self-reliant farmer) over ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’. “When ‘Atma Nirbhar Krishi’ is achieved, the nation will prosper. This initiative needs to be taken up positively without any reservations,” he said at a press conference here on Saturday. “This is in the better interest of the nation as the population was nearing 140 crore. No other country will be able to fulfil our food requirements,” said the Chief Minister.
Regarding paddy procurement, the Chief Minister said despite repeated appeals from the State, the Centre failed to respond positively. The State government would demand the Centre to declare annual target on procurement. Based on the Centre’s commitment, the State government would make arrangements, besides guiding the farmers on crop cultivation, he said.
The Centre supplies about 60 lakh tonnes to the State under Public Distribution System. There was nothing more significant being done by the Centre in procurement, he said. On the acreage in the State, the Centre had made some remarks but recently they admitted that it was 58.60 lakh acres. Correspondence was under progress over the issue, he said.
Stating that there was confusion among farmers over crop cultivation due to local BJP leaders’ false statements, he said it was high time for Centre to clarify its stand as ‘Anuradha Karthi’ to raise nurseries had commenced in the State. As part of this endeavour, two delegations, including officials led by Chief Secretary, and MPs and Ministers led by Agriculture and Civil Supplies Ministers, would go to New Delhi to exert pressure on the Centre, he said.
“I too will be in New Delhi for a couple of days. If required, I will personally meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get clear assurances,” said the Chief Minister.
He categorically assured the farmers that every grain produced in Vaanakalam would be procured by the Telangana government. Already, 6,600 procurement centres had been set up and if required more centres would be set up across the State. Since rainfall was forecast, he appealed to the farmers not to harvest their crops in the next three to four days. Those who have already harvested should carefully get their stocks to the procurement centres, he said. Like previous years, Rythu Bandhu would be extended by the State government and farmers do not have to worry in this regard, he said.
Farm laws: Rs 22.5 cr ex gratia for kin
Expressing condolences to the bereaved families of nearly 750 farmers, who lost their lives during protests against the farm laws, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announced an ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh to each family from Telangana government.
To this effect, nearly Rs 22.5 crore would be sanctioned and the cheques would be handed over to the families personally by State Ministers, he said.
He demanded the Central government to also announce an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the families. The Chief Minister insisted that all the cases, including sedition cases, booked against farmers and those including Disha, a woman from Bengaluru, who extended support to the movement should be withdrawn immediately without any conditions.
Apologise, CM to BJP leaders
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao demanded local BJP leaders tender an apology to the people and farmers for resorting to false publicity. “Since the people got clarity on the issues, the BJP leaders should stop speaking illogically. From now on, we are not going to accept if they continue to make baseless remarks,” he said. “Repealing farm laws is nothing but a stunt ahead of elections in five States,” he further said.
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