Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) founder K Chiranjeevi on Friday upped the ante in the fight for getting adequate compensation for rain-hit farmers by claiming that his party was more concerned than the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as far as the issue was concerned.
Accusing TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu of launching his hunger strike to press the government to release adequate compensation for the farmers, Chiranjeevi described it as a 'stunt' to get political mileage.
The PRP chief also accused Naidu of shedding crocodile tears on farmers' problems, and added that the TDP chief could do anything to come back to power. "His 'Deeksha' is not to help the farmers. Naidu's main aim is to grab power by politicizing the issues," he charged.
As if to prove that the TDP chief's words of support to the farmers were hollow, Chiranjeevi demanded that the government review its package announced for rain-hit farmers, and take steps for increasing the relief measures.
Slamming the state government for announcing a meagre package for rain-affected farmers, Chiranjeevi said his party would intensify its protests if the government did not take proper measures for the welfare of farmers.
Stating that the government had totally failed in providing relief to affected farmers, the actor-turned-politician said that the MPs of the state were not responding actively and properly in bringing farmers' problems to the notice of the concerned Union Minister. "The farmers in the state are facing injustice due to our inefficient MPs," he stated.
The PRP chief also wondered why the state government was keeping quiet when wheat sown in Punjab was being stored in godowns in Andhra Pradesh.
Chiranjeevi also demanded that the government implement the M S Swaminathan Committee recommendations and pay MSP for crops.
The PRP chief also appealed to the government to announce a special package for poverty stricken weavers and cotton growers, and set up cotton purchase centres in each mandal.