KCR Must Quit If He Can't Bail Out Paddy Farmers: Congress

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & MP A Revanth Reddy accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of putting the lives and livelihood of lakhs of Telangana farmers at stake by refusing to purchase paddy crops in the Yasangi season.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Reddy slammed KCR for leaving the farmers in a state of confusion.

"KCR is asking the farmers not to cultivate paddy. But he is not suggesting any alternate crops. He even announced that there wouldn't be any procurement centres in the next season. He has simply disowned all the farmers and left them to their fates," he said.

The TPCC chief asked KCR to explain whether or not an agriculture policy existed in Telangana.

"The TRS government is claiming that it had spent nearly Rs. 3 lakh crore to create irrigation facilities for 1 crore acres of land. KCR also claims that his government is providing water for every acre of land, free power, and investment support through the Rythu Bandhu scheme. What is the use of all these if the government is not willing to purchase the agricultural produce? Union Minister G Kishan Reddy made an open statement in a press conference announcing that the Centre would not buy the crops in the Yasangi season. Now KCR too has disowned the farmers saying that the state government would not buy crops from the next season. What should the farmers do now?" he asked.

Reddy alleged that KCR was fully aware of conditions laid down by the Centre on the purchase of paddy in the Kharif season by the Food Corporation of India, in the month of August. However, KCR did not react till the end of the harvesting period, and delayed all the other processes involved in the purchase of paddy. The BJP and the TRS governments then started a blame game after the harvested paddy reached the farm yarns and procurement centres for sale.

"By refusing to purchase the produce, the BJP and the TRS governments are making it inevitable for farmers to turn to corporate powers. Now the farmers will be forced to sell their crops to Adani and Ambani at whatever prices they offer," he said.

The TPCC chief lamented that it was highly unfortunate that Telangana, which was known as the Rice Bowl of India, would not cultivate paddy hereon. He added that KCR could not escape from his responsibility as the Chief Minister by asking farmers not to grow paddy. "If the Centre is refusing to purchase the crop, then the state government must intervene by buying the produce to help the farmers," he said.

"And when a Chief Minister is expressing helplessness in bailing out the farmers, then he has no right to remain in the post given to him by the people. KCR has no right to continue as CM, and the people will never forgive him for his mistakes which have ruined the lives of lakhs of farmers," he said.

He also said that the government must provide all the necessary facilities and assure an MSP if it was asking the farmers to grow alternate crops. He said that the Congress government in Chhattisgarh had not only ensured MSP for the farmers, but also provided a bonus when it suggested alternate crops.

Reddy alleged that KCR Government played similar "stunts" in the past by advising farmers against growing maize, sugarcane and cotton. Now he was directing them not to cultivate rice. Reddy also said that KCR had a track record of terrorizing farmers - sugarcane farmers in Nizamabad and chilli farmers of Warangal and Khammam were humiliated when they asked for an MSP, and that tribal farmers in Khammam were implicated in false cases, arrested and chained when they asked for proper remuneration for their produce - making them think many times even to raise their voices.

The TPCC President challenged KCR to stage a fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar in Delhi if he was really serious about paddy farmers. Calling KCR's call for a battle against Modi government on the farmers' issue fake and hollow, he said that KCR must leave Hyderabad and begin his protest in the national capital.

"Unlike the Congress, KCR can never fight with the BJP head on. He is afraid that the Modi government will begin investigations into his corrupt activities if he transforms himself into a rival instead of remaining a secret ally," he said.

Reddy said that the Congress would not allow TRS and the BJP governments to exploit the farmers. "We will intensify our battle and will not rest until the Centre and the state governments purchase every grain produced by Telangana's farmers," he vowed.