Congress Condemns Handcuffing Of Khammam Farmers

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned the TRS government for the handcuffing of the arrested chilli farmers while they were being taken to be produced before court in Khammam on Thursday.

Speaking to mediapersons at his residence in Banjara Hills, Reddy said that the TRS government had committed a grave mistake by handcuffing the farmers. He reminded the listeners that all that the poor farmers had done was stage a protest demanding remunerative prices for their crops. Instead of conceding their demands, the government had registered criminal cases against them and put them behind bars.

"It is highly shocking that the accused farmers were brought to the court handcuffed. Are they terrorists or extremists? What is the message that the TRS government is trying to convey by handcuffing the poor farmers? Is it trying to say that anyone who protests against TRS government will be considered a hardcore criminal?" he asked. "Today the Chief Minister has crossed all limits by ordering the police to produce the farmers before the court handcuffed. This is the height of arrogance."

The TPCC Chief demanded that KCR tender an unconditional public apology for the "mistake". He also demanded stern action for the action, including the suspension of all police officials responsible for the handcuffing. He also said that all the cases registered against the farmers should be withdrawn immediately.

"The Congress party will intensify its agitation if these demands are not met immediately. The echo of the farmers' protests held at the Khammam market yard will now be heard everywhere across Telangana. The poor chilli farmers have been subjected to lot of humiliation. First they were denied a supportive price, then implicated in a false case, then arrested and jailed, and now handcuffed. We will not let their sacrifices go in waste," he said.

Reddy also reiterated the demand that the state government immediately procure the chilli produce by paying Rs. 12,000 per quintal, and warned the TRS government of serious implications if it continued to neglect the farmers of the state. "KCR remained a mute spectator to suicides by more than 3,000 farmers. The TRS government did nothing when farmers lost four consecutive crops. And when a favourable monsoon finally increased their production in the Rabi season, they were denied remunerative prices. The Congress party will not tolerate this injustice to the farmers, and will launch mass agitation," he announced.

Stating that the agricultural sector was in complete doldrums under the TRS rule, he said that the Congress party would revive the entire sector after it returned to power in the 2019 elections.