On December 24, KT Rama Rao (KTR), the working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), sharply criticized the Telangana government for its mishandling of paddy procurement and for neglecting the welfare of farmers in the state. He expressed deep concerns about the government’s failure to address the challenges faced by farmers, especially in relation to paddy cultivation, and accused the government of abandoning those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
KTR, who is also the Sircilla MLA, took to social media to voice his criticism. He highlighted the significant gap between the government’s actions and the expectations of farmers. Despite producing an impressive 1.53 crore tonnes of paddy during the Vaanakalam season, only 46 lakh metric tonnes were procured, leaving a substantial amount of crops unsold. KTR pointed out that the government’s decision to deny procurement of coarse variety paddy and impose multiple restrictions on the purchase of fine variety paddy further compounded the problems faced by farmers.
Additionally, KTR criticized the government’s failure to honor the promised Rs 500 bonus per quintal for farmers. Instead, only Rs 530 crore was disbursed under stringent conditions, far from what was initially promised.
The former IT minister also took aim at the Congress-led government for discontinuing the Rythu Bharosa scheme, which had provided vital support to farmers in the state. KTR accused the Congress of depriving farmers of Rs 26,000 crore and noted that, under the BRS government, farmers not only received Rythu Bandhu farm investment support but were also guaranteed the direct procurement of their paddy from their fields.
KTR did not stop at criticizing the government’s handling of agricultural issues. He expanded his criticism to encompass broader governance failures, pointing to power cuts, riots, political vendettas, administrative chaos, and dishonesty. He questioned the current state of Telangana, asking, “What is left in Telangana except demolitions, debts, and diversions?” His comments painted a bleak picture of the government’s performance and underscored the urgent need for action to address farmers’ grievances and restore stability to the state.
As the ongoing paddy procurement issues continue to affect the farming community, KTR called on the Telangana government to take immediate steps to rectify the situation and ensure that farmers receive the support and resources they need to thrive.
