Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao today said that the TRS-led state government was spending a staggering Rs 35,000 crore on agricultural development in the state.
Speaking after participating in some developmental programs in Sangareddy district's Patancheru area, the finance minister lashed out at the preceding Congress and TDP governments of undivided Andhra Pradesh for neglecting the agricultural sector, and added that the problems of the farmers of the state had begun to lessen only with the coming of the TRS regime.
"The past governments of undivided Andhra Pradesh had always ignored the agrarian community, and had not done anything to alleviate the problems being faced by it. The preceding governments were quick to promise the moon to the people for electoral gains, but would promptly forget their promises after each election. Our current Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, on the other hand, has worked tirelessly to improve the condition of the farmers of Telangana, and has always supported them. Despite inheriting the many issues that the previous governments failed to address, the TRS regime has been able to achieve much in this area under KCR's guidance. We have transformed the state's agricultural sector by spending Rs 1,000 crore on providing 24x7 free power supply to the farmers, Rs 7,500 crore on the implementation of the Rythu Bandhu scheme and Rs 1,300 crore on the implementation of the Rythu Bima scheme. We also spent thousands of crores on farm loan waivers. Under the TRS' rule, the irrigation sector of the state too has been transformed - the government has fulfilled its promise of resolving the issue of erratic water supply as a result of which most farmers in the state are now being able to harvest at least two crops a year. Even if there is no rain, the farms will receive enough water," he said.
"Owing to its commitment to farmer welfare, our government continued to implement its various pro-farmer schemes, including the Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima programs, even through the Covid-19 pandemic," Rao added.
Addressing the ongoing standoff between the Centre and the farmers protesting the three new agricultural Acts, the minister opined that it was "shameful" that the country, even after more than 70 years of independence, had not been able to solve the problems of its farmers, and that it was their precarious economic condition that had pushed the farmers to protest against the laws and demand their withdrawal.
The minister also participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Gandhi Theme Park being built in Sangareddy.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said that the park was being built at a cost of Rs 1.6 crore, and would be equipped with many modern facilities.
Rao also promised to construct a state-of-the-art hospital in the area soon.
The Finance Minister's statements on agriculture follow the endless backlash that the TRS government received for first
"pretending" to
oppose the farm Acts, and for then
"welcoming" the same. Many Opposition leaders claim that the government's "U-turn" on the matter is the result of TRS chief KCR's closeness with the BJP top brass.
(To read more about the backlash the TRS government received for its "U-turn", click
here.