YSRCP Government pushing farmers into debts: Nara Lokesh

Amaravati: TDP National General Secretary Nara Lokesh on Wednesday paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Charan Singh and recalled the departed leader's outstanding service to the country's farmers during his long political career in those days.

Lokesh said that it has been a longstanding tradition to celebrate Charan Singh's birthday as the National Farmers' Day all over the country. This was in recognition of his landmark laws to protect the farmers' interest and to safeguard the tenant farmers' rights in getting agricultural loans.

In a statement here, Nara Lokesh deplored that the Jagan government had not hesitated to tarnish the memory of such a national level leader by observing the Farmers' Day on the YSR birthday instead of Charan Singh's birthday. It was a great dishonour to the former Prime Minister who had filled new light in the lives of the farmers. Whereas, the YSRCP is known for its backward policies that had pushed the farmers into losses and debts in just 20 months.

Lokesh slammed the ruling YSRCP for creating such worse situations in the agriculture sector that farmers' suicides were being reported in the State on a daily basis. No helping hand was being given to the farmers either in subsidy seed or fertiliser or inputs. While the farmers were starving for assistance and silently wailing in farmlands, the YSRCP minister for Agriculture was busy enjoying the recording dance programmes. This showed the utter disregard that the Jagan regime had for the misery and suffering of the farmers.

Stating that the farmers would remain the backbone of the country for their toil and sacrifice, Lokesh said that the TDP would stand by the side of the farmers through all their ups and downs. He extended his heartfelt wishes for the farmers on the National Farmers' Day celebrations.

It may be recalled the TDP has been agitating against the YSRCP regime's proposal to fix current meters on the agricultural pump sets. The Opposition party was asserting that free power was a right that the farmers had earned for themselves by waging struggles. Also, the TDP has condemned the YSRCP government's 'negligence and indifference' to come to the rescue of the farmers who suffered heavy losses in the floods, heavy rains and cyclone.