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The minister's press conference was to rebut the statement of BRS Chief K Chandrashekara Rao who said the details of 209 farmers, who died by suicide, were submitted to the Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari.

Sharing the concern voiced by the farmers, BRS working President K T Rama Rao said the party would continue to fight for the cause of the farmers.

He was speaking at a protest staged by the party at the Roads and Building department's guest house here on Saturday.

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao accused the Congress of preaching one thing while doing the exact opposite by welcoming BRS MLAs into their party while allowing them to retain their posts.

Khammam MP Nama Nageswara Rao, Rajya Sabha member Vaddiraju Ravichandra and ex-MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and others took in the deeksha held in Kallur as support for the farmer.

The government did not clear dues of Rs 351.52 crore pertaining to Bathukamma saree orders to TESCO.

Drawing attention to the Assembly election promises, the BRS leader recalled similar instances where the Congress did not implement its promises post victory.

Stating that it was not possible for the Congress government to protect the interests of farmers by supplying water to standing crops, he said the BRS would fight on behalf of the farming community.

He addressed party workers at preparatory meetings for the parliamentary elections held at Aswaraopet and at Kothagudem in the district on Thursday.

Chandrashekhar Rao, who will arrive at Karimnagar town at 10 am, will inspect damaged crops in Mugdumpur of Karimnagar rural mandal and interact with farmers.

Chandrashekhar Rao's assertive stance during his recent visit to Nalgonda, Suryapet and Jangaon districts caused a stir within the ruling party, prompting heated exchanges over responsibility for the crisis.

The State government had denied release of water to standing crops on the pretext that there was no water in irrigation projects.

Former Minister and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao also extended his heartfelt condolences over demise of workers in the fire mishap.

He said that if he wins for the third time he would work for Khammam development and stand by the BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao in these difficult times.

Rama Rao warned to initiate legal action against the Ministers including the Chief Minister for making baseless allegations against him on the issue.

He said rather than extending relief to the affected families, the Chief Minister was mocking former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and asking the opposition BRS to provide details of those who committed suicide due to crop loss.

He denied mismanagement of water resources, stating that poor rainfall led to scarcity of water in irrigation projects and declining groundwater levels

In an open letter, Harish Rao stated that during the BRS regime, the dairy bills were cleared once in every 15 days, but the Congress-led State government kept them pending for the last 45 days.

BRS leaders led by district president GV Ramakrishna Rao, former MLA Sunke Ravishankar and others submitted a representation to Collector Pamela Satpathy here on Tuesday, demanding the government to protect the interests of farmers.

Harish Rao on Tuesday had demanded the government to release water from Mallanna Sagar within 24 hours, failing which people in the command area of the project would lift the gates of the project on their own.