TPCC chief Revanth urges farmers
PNS|Hyderabad
The BRS is trying to play politics with farmers, TPCC President Revanth Reddy said and urged farmers to ask BRS leaders when the loans of farmers will be waived and about Podu lands. The BRS had given a call to its leaders to organise meetings at Rythu Vedikas from July 17 and pass resolutions against Revanth’s comments on free power supply.
In his open letter to farmers on Sunday Revanth said that the BRS which had kept Rythu Vedikas ornamental has now decided to turn them into political platforms.
The BRS promised to waive farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh if it comes to power in 2018 but the government did not do it, he said.
“As the last budget has been introduced, it is clear that there will be no more loan waivers. The government which had promised to waive loans of Rs 20,000 crore has cheated farmers. Farmers are now committing suicide,” Revanth said.
He also asked farmers to ask about the payment of money for the procured grain and added that the KCR government opened grain-buying centres very late. “We have seen how farmers swooned on piles of grain and died. In the name of Tarugu Talu (waste), there was looting of 5 to 10 kg. As tarpaulins were not provided at the procurement centres farmers suffered. The order to deposit money in farmers’ accounts within 48 hours of grain purchase remains on paper. The money due to farmers is Rs 6,800 crore,” he said.
Giving a call to the Congress activists to question BRS leaders about Podu lands, Revanth said that in the last nine years, the government has grabbed lakhs of acres of assigned land from the poor, and has not been able to give land to poor tribal and Dalit families. While 50 lakh tribals are eligible for pattas only four lakhs were given them, he said.
Farmers were promised free fertilisers but that was not done. The promised aid of Rs 10,000 per acre for crops damaged by hailstorms has not been given. NCRB records say that Telangana ranks second in farmer suicides. He said that KCR holds the all-time record for cheating farmers.
