TRS MPs demand uniform procurement policy
Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MPs brought the Parliament to a standstill, forcing the adjournment of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as they demanded that the Centre address the issues of paddy procurement and also issual of a gazette notification taking over irrigation projects on Godavari and Krishna rivers. Later, they staged a […]
Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MPs brought the Parliament to a standstill, forcing the adjournment of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as they demanded that the Centre address the issues of paddy procurement and also issual of a gazette notification taking over irrigation projects on Godavari and Krishna rivers. Later, they staged a protest at Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises demanding a uniform national procurement policy.
Soon after the Lok Sabha commenced, Speaker Om Birla administered the oath of office to the new members. Even as the Question Hour began, the Opposition parties demanded a discussion on farmers’ issues. The TRS members led by TRS Lok Sabha floor leader Nama Nageshwara Rao raised slogans and displayed placards. They trooped into the Speaker’s podium, demanding that the Central government announce its policy on paddy procurement and wanted the paddy lying in the market yards of Telangana lifted immediately. With this, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 12 noon.
In Rajya Sabha, Uttar Pradesh MP GVL Narasimha Rao raised a question on gazette notification issued over construction of irrigation projects on the Godavari and Krishna, and sought to know what action would be taken if any State violates the gazette notification. While the Union Minister concerned was asked to respond, the TRS MPs started raising slogans. Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu warned the TRS members and asked them not to rush into the well. He even mentioned the name of MP Banda Prakash and asked TRS Parliamentary Party leader K Keshava Rao to control his colleague. As the MPs did not heed, Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House till 2 pm.
Earlier, TRS MP Keshava Rao gave an adjournment motion in the Rajya Sabha on paddy procurement in Telangana, but it was rejected by the Chairman, following which the TRS MPs raised slogans.
After both the Houses were adjourned, the TRS MPs Keshava Rao, Nama Nageshwara Rao, KR Suresh Reddy, Banda Prakash, Joginapally Santosh Kumar, G Ranjith Reddy, BB Patil, Manne Srinivas Reddy, P Ramulu, B Venkatesh Netha and others staged protests at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. They displayed placards demanding that the Centre announce a national uniform procurement policy to support farmers and developing States like Telangana. They sought discussion on the issue.
The TRS members said due to pro-farmer initiatives by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, farmers in Telangana were receiving adequate irrigation water, fertilizers, seeds, Rythu Bandhu farm incentive, uninterrupted and quality power supply among others. As a result, the farm yield had increased significantly in the State, they said. They demanded that the Union government must adopt pro-farmer policies.
Speaking to mediapersons, Keshava Rao termed the Centre as anti-farmer government. He pointed out that while Telangana was producing nearly 1.4 crore tonnes of paddy, the Centre was refusing to purchase not more than 40 lakh tonnes. “If the Centre gives a clarity on the annual paddy procurement, we can convince the farmers to shift to alternative crops. It would take at least three years for convincing farmers to shift to alternative crops and until then, the Union government must purchase parboiled rice,” he said. He made it clear that TRS did not want to disrupt the parliamentary proceedings, but was only demanding a discussion on farmers’ issues.
The winter session of the Parliament began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on December 23.
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