TRS launches Maha Dharna to secure farmers’ future

Hyderabad: Launching an all-out attack on the BJP on the issue of paddy procurement in the State, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had just one question for the Union government: “Will you buy our paddy or not?” He demanded that the Union government spell out its policy on paddy procurement without further delay. “I am […]

Hyderabad: Launching an all-out attack on the BJP on the issue of paddy procurement in the State, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had just one question for the Union government: “Will you buy our paddy or not?”

He demanded that the Union government spell out its policy on paddy procurement without further delay. “I am requesting the Centre with folded hands to be crystal clear on whether it plans to procure paddy from Telangana in the next (Yasangi) season or not,” he said, while addressing a massive gathering of Ministers, MPs, legislators and other TRS elected representatives during the Maha Dharna staged at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park on Thursday.

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Accusing the Centre of not purchasing paddy, the Chief Minister slammed the BJP State leaders for trying to draw political mileage by putting farmers’ lives at stake. He said the BJP State leaders were asking farmers to grow paddy in Yasangi season, but the BJP-led Union government was not clarifying whether it would purchase paddy or not.

“They are playing political games. If the Centre does not purchase paddy, we will dump the stock at the BJP State office,” he warned.

Chandrashekhar Rao stated that the farmers were not making any unreasonable demands, but were only seeking remunerative price for their produce. He said 50 days ago, he had requested Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal to set the target for paddy procurement from the State. But there had been no response from the Centre. He said he had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday on the issue. If the Union government does not respond, the TRS was planning to take the protests to Delhi, he said.

“We started this battle because our farming community may suffer due to the Centre’s policies. The Union government is reluctant and negligent towards farmers as well as agriculture. We demand them to change their attitude and come to the rescue of farmers,” the Chief Minister said. He demanded that the Central government withdraw the autocratic farm laws as well as the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act.

Chandrashekhar Rao declared that the TRS will continue its battle till there is an announcement from the Centre. The fight would be intensified in the future, till the interests of Telangana farmers are safeguarded, by joining forces with the ‘agitating farming community in north India’, he said. “These protests are just a beginning. We will continue our fight till Centre does justice to our farming community,” he said.

He stated that the political posts meant nothing for TRS when compared to people of Telangana. He reminded that the TRS leaders had given up such posts for achieving Telangana statehood in the past and would not hesitate to hit the streets again. “This fight starts with rice and then it goes on for the country. Today is the beginning. We will not back down as people’s lives are more important to us. The politics come later,” he asserted.

Pointing out that TRS was criticised by the BJP over its recent dharnas on paddy procurement despite being in power, the TRS president reminded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, held a protest for 51 hours in 2006.

“A message is going out from this platform that pitiable circumstances of the Chief Ministers, Ministers and MLAs having to sit on a dharna prevail in this country,” he said.

The Chief Minister also requested the farmers to think realistically and not fall in the trap of the BJP leaders. He cautioned them that they would suffer if they cultivate paddy heeding to the BJP’s provocation. He advised them to take up cultivation of alternative crops in the Yasangi season in their best interests.

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