Centre Giving Rs 41,000 Per Acre, State Just 10,000: Bandi

Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar today said that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre was extending a benefit of Rs 41,000 per acre to farmers in the form of a 90% subsidy on fertilisers and the PM Kisan Yojana, while the TRS government was providing assistance only under Rythu Bandhu (Rs 10,000 per year) and had stopped all the other farmer subsidies.

Speaking at the BJP Kisan Morcha State executive committee meeting on the city outskirts, Kumar said that a bag of urea costing Rs 3,750 was being supplied to farmers for only Rs 350, and a bag of DAP fertiliser costing Rs 4,073 per bag was being provided for only Rs 1,450.

"Every acre requires three bags each of urea and DAP. In addition, the Modi government is also providing annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 to each farmer under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Taking into account the subsidy and the money being given under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Centre is extending a cumulative financial assistance of Rs 41,000 to each farmer every year," he said.

Sanjay said that while reaching out to the farmers, each BJP Kisan Morcha worker should carry two bags - one each of urea and DAP - and explain to them these facts.

"At the same time, you should also explain how KCR has been hoodwinking the farmers by denying all the other benefits to them on the pretext of the Rythu Bandhu assistance," he said.

The BJP president also alleged that KCR had subjected the farmers to hardships by creating problems in the procurement of paddy and them blamed it on the Centre. And the CM, after announcing the closing down of paddy procurement centres and stoppage of supplies to the Centre, had taken a U-turn after the people suspected foul play.

"In additon, with his inconsistent stand on paddy cultivation, KCR has become the laughing stock of the entire country. He calls upon the farmers to grow fine paddy varieties, and the very next day he warns them against growing paddy," he said.

He also accused the Chief Minister of siphoning off Rs 100 crore sanctioned by the Centre towards soil fertility testing.

"We are not against alternative crops. But we won't keep quiet if the TRS government continues to trouble farmers without educating them and not conducting soil testing," he said.

He added that KCR had also betrayed the farmers on his crop loan waiver promise, and the government employees by not paying salaries on time.

"In addition, he has pushed the State into a debt trap. Like in the case of Sri Lanka, this one-family rule has ruined the State," he said.

Claiming that every section of the Telangana society was facing distress now, Sanjay said, "Having realised the growing unrest among different sections of people, KCR is now enacting a drama of early elections. Many TRS MLAs are however openly saying that they won't be able to win if they contest the polls with KCR's image and the TRS symbol."