TDP Demands Hike In Paddy MSP

Demanding minimum support price for paddy and storage space for food-grains, farmers - under the aegis of Telugu Desam Party - on Thursday, staged a massive dharna at Hanuman Junction in Krishna district.

Raising slogans against the State government, the farmers, who hailed from Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts, staged a sit-in dharna on the road, disrupting traffic.

Addressing farmers, senior TDP leader Kodela Siva Prasad alleged that the government has failed totally in redressing farmers' problems.

Kodela charged the government with failing to provide storage space for storing grains in godowns, forcing the farmers to sell their produce as throwaway prices. He said that the farmers had hoped to recoup the losses suffered through the years in the Kharif season after bountiful rains had helped them reap a bumper harvest.

The TDP leader also blamed the State government for failing to pursue farmers' problems with the Centre.

Condemning the Centre's move to hike the minimum support price for wheat, Telugu Desam Party MLA Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao demanded an immediate hike in minimum support price for the paddy crop.

Devineni said that though the Congress had 35 MPs from the State they haven't taken any initiative to highlight the issues faced by the State to the notice of the Union ministers.

The Congress government, which claims to be farmer-friendly and concerned about their welfare, has become indifferent to their problems after coming back to power for the second time, he alleged. He added that the State government is responsible for farmers' suicides.

Courtesy: INN