Telangana: Congress warns State-wide stir on farmers' issues

Hyderabad: TPCC president and MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday announced the schedule for a massive agitation against the decision of TRS Government to shut down the procurement centres in villages.

Reddy held a meeting with CLP Leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, MLC Jeevan Reddy, legislators Sridhar Babu and Jagga Reddy, TPCC working president Ponnam Prabhakar and office-bearers of the Kisan Congress.

The meeting was coordinated by All-India Kisan Congress vice-chairman Kodanda Reddy and Telangana Kisan Congress chairman Anvesh. They had a detailed discussion on the recent decisions taken by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and their impact on farmers of Telangana.

Addressing a press conference later, Reddy said the party would organise protests in all mandal headquarters from December 30 to January 8. Memoranda would be submitted to MROs. On January 11, protests would be held in all district headquarters and a State-level protest would be held on January 18. He said a round-table conference would also be held in the next two-three days.

The TPCC chief condemned KCR's decision to wind up all procurement centres and said the CM has no moral to continue. He alleged that KCR was implementing the new farm laws of BJP government to benefit corporates and hurt interest of farmers.

Reddy said the government had spent nearly Rs 10 lakh crore since the formation of Telangana. In this scenario, losses of Rs 7,500 crore due to procurement of agricultural produce was not significant. He alleged that the losses occurred not due to farmers, but to incompetence of government. He said KCR's objection to new farm laws was false and fabricated. "KCR has compromised with the BJP on the issue after he met Prime Minister Narender Modi and other leaders during his Delhi visit.

Bhatti Vikramarka said that a mask worn by TRS while supporting the Bharat Bandh in favour of farmers has now been removed. He suspected a major conspiracy behind CM KCR anti-farmers decision. Jeevan Reddy asserted that farmers would not get MSP due to the new farm laws. He asked the government to clarify whether it was supporting farmers or 'anti-farmer' BJP government.