Wake up to farm crisis, Harish Rao tells Revanth Reddy

Says farmers are waiting for days in the sun to sell their crops, but the Chief Minister is busy reviewing beauty pageants

Hyderabad: Senior BRS MLA and former Minister T Harish Rao held the Congress government, particularly Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, responsible for the deaths of several farmers at procurement centres across Telangana. Terming them “government-induced murders”, he blamed the government for its negligence and administrative failure.

He found fault with misplaced priorities of the Chief Minister. “Farmers are waiting for days in the sun to sell their crops, but the Chief Minister is busy reviewing beauty pageants instead of holding reviews on procurement and farmers’ welfare. This government must wake up to the crisis and fulfil its responsibilities,” he said, warning that the BRS would soon launch a State-wide action on behalf of the farmers if no corrective steps are taken.

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Addressing the media at Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday, Harish Rao charged the government with ignoring basic facilities at procurement centres, ranging from lack of transportation to inadequate shelter and support. He said while farmers are struggling at procurement centres, the Chief Minister and the State machinery were preoccupied with organising beauty pageants. Citing incidents across Siddipet, Mahabubabad, Jagtial and other districts, he said farmers died after waiting in the scorching heat for days to sell their crop.

“Four lakh tonnes of paddy remain piled up at these centres, with over one lakh tonnes stuck due to lack of lorries. Even after ten days of purchase, payments have not been made. The promised 48-hour disbursement is a joke,” he said.

The former Minister stated that the Rs.512 crore towards Rs.500 bonus promised for the previous Yasangi (Rabi) season was not released. “Despite budgetary allocations, the government has failed to implement key promises, be it the Rs 42,000 crore loan waiver, the Rythu Bharosa crop investment support or Rs 500 bonus for paddy. Most farmers haven’t received assistance for the Yasangi season, even though it has already concluded,” he added.

Harish Rao cited multiple deaths of farmers waiting at procurement centres due to prolonged exposure to heat and exhaustion. He listed out five such incidents from districts including Siddipet, Mahabubabad, and Jagtial. He also criticised the government for failing to honour its assurance on farmers’ life insurance. “Farmers who died after February have not received insurance payouts due to non-payment of premiums,” he said.

Referring to farmer protests across Rajanna Sircilla, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Adilabad, and other districts, the BRS leader said public anger was growing. He demanded immediate procurement of rain-damaged and under-weighed paddy at support prices and urged the State to act before further damage occurs. “Running a government is not the same as blaming the opposition. This administration must act responsibly and urgently address farmers’ grievances,” he said.

Harish Rao took a dig at the Chief Minister over the latter’s recent remarks that the State was unable to raise loans. “By speaking poorly about the State and its financial health, Revanth Reddy brought upon himself. Even Pakistan is able to get loans, but not Revanth Reddy,” he said.