In a move to increase pressure on the State government to procure paddy from the farmers, the Opposition Congress party has issued ultimatum to the State Government to commence procurement of paddy from farmers in the next 24 hours are face consequences.
“Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has been playing politics in the name paddy procurement at Delhi. He has issued an ultimatum to the Centre to procure paddy. On behalf of the TPCC, we are issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the State government to commence paddy procurement,” said TPCC Campaign Committee chairman Madhu Yashki Goud while addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday. He alleged that the TRS failed to use the opportunity of meeting the Prime Minister and other Ministers during the Parliament session and instead are enacting a drama in the name of dharna.
“The Congress Government in 2006 entered into agreements with FCI and Civil Supplies Corporation for paddy procurement and since then farmers are selling paddy at procurement centres. Now the problem has started with only Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao. The State has failed to hand over 13 lakh MT s of rice to the Centre that was due in rabi. It was also stated that huge quantity of rice went missing from millers. The farmers in North Telangana have been incurring huge loss due to non-procurement,”Mr. Goud said. “We will meet Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on April 13 and explain how the farmers are being cheated,” he added, alleging that the family of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao is hands in glove with millers in the State.
Taking to Twitter, TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy ridiculed the dharna by Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao and his colleagues at New Delhi. “While paddy farmers are dying at Kallams (paddy drying platforms), CM is relaxing with coolers and ACs at New Delhi in the name of Dharna. Put off your dramas and commence paddy procurement within 24 hours or else you will go to Shankaragiri manyalu,” Mr. Revanth tweeted.
