Cyclone Nilam-Affected Farmers Are Committing Suicides: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party State president G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday alleged that at least eight cotton farmers, who were hit by Cyclone Nilam, have committed suicides in the last three days.

Addressing a press conference at the State BJP office, Kishan Reddy said that of eight, five farmers ended their lives at different places on Tuesday alone. He said although 43 lakh acres of cotton fields were damaged due to the recent Cyclone Nilam, the state government failed to provide any relief. Following the state government's lack of assurance for help, the farmers have committed suicide, he alleged.

The BJP leader said that the state government was yet to send a formal letter to the Centre seeking relief from the Centre for the cyclone affected people. He demanded that the government provide Rs. 500 per acre bonus to the farmers, besides directing the Marfed to purchase cotton at Rs. 3,900 per quintal.

Kishan Reddy also alleged discrimination with Telangana region in disbursement of loans for farmers. As against the target of Rs 13,300 crore farm loans, only Rs 1300 crore have been disbursed. Further, the loan disbursement was almost nil in Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Medak districts. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's home district Chittoor has registered the maximum loan disbursement of 26% of the target. He said these statistics show that Telangana districts were being discriminated.

The BJP leader also demanded that the government prevent irregularities in the procurement of milk in the state. He said that the Dairy Development Corporation should be directed surplus milk, and distribute the same in hospitals, schools and hostels across the state free of cost.

BJP Kishan Morch National General Secretary P Sugunakar Rao and State Morch President Jamula Shyam Kishore were also present. (INN)