Revanth Reddy Seeks BRS Support For Rythu Bharosa

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today reiterated that the State government was committed to implementing the Rythu Bharosa scheme and would extend full support to the farming community.

Participating in a short discussion in the Assembly on the Rythu Bharosa scheme, the CM said that the government considered Rythu Bharosa an ambitious initiative, and was seeking suggestions from the main opposition party the BRS too to finalise the modalities for its implementation.

He alleged that the previous government spent Rs 72,817 crore on the Rythu Bandhu scheme over 10 years but misused the funds by allocating money to uncultivated lands, layouts and national highways.

"Out of the Rs 72,817 crore, almost Rs 22,000 crore were given to undeserving recipients, but the current government will not allow anything like that," he said.

The CM claimed that Rythu Bandhu funds were allocated for Rajiv Road in Gajwel, Srisailam roads in Amangal, and even for crusher units and mining lands. He also claimed that Rythu Bandhu was extended to nearly 3 crore acres around Hyderabad, of which 70% to 80% was not being farmed, resulting in the misappropriation of thousands of crores of rupees.

He also alleged that some associates of the previous administration received Rythu Bandhu benefits through fake title deeds.

The Chief Minister also said that Telangana recorded the second-highest number of farmer suicides during KCR's tenure. He claimed that 898 farmers committed suicide in 2014, 1,358 in 2015 and 632 in 2016. He said that States with larger populations did not witness such high numbers of farmer suicides, and that the figures were shameful for Telangana, a wealthy and surplus State.

"The Congress government on the contrary waived Rs 20,616 crore in loans for 25,35,963 farmers in just 27 days during the first year of its tenure. This is unprecedented in the country. We do not consider this an achievement but rather our responsibility," the CM said.

Reddy also took the opportunity to criticize former Chief Minister and Opposition leader K Chandrashekar Rao for not attending the Assembly session. He said that KCR was avoiding the House because if he attended he would have to bow his head in front of the public.