After heavy rains lashed several parts of Telangana, including the Narayanpet, Jogulamba Gadwal, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Mahbubnagar, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Nalgonda, Khammam, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, last week, the paddy that had been stored at procurement centres across the state suffered damage. Many farmers who had taken their produce to the centres were badly hit by the rains as a result.
Following this, politician Y S Sharmila today visited the flood-hit farmers of Vikarabad district.
However, before Sharmila could meet the farmers, she had to face the police.
The leader, who set out for Vikarabad from her Lotus Pond residence this morning, was obstructed by the police at Chintapally in Chevella. They put up iron barricades across the road in order to stop her from continuing her journey.
At this juncture, there was some tension between the police and her supporters. However, she made clear the fact that she was not violating any Covid-19 protocols or lockdown rules and demanded that they allow her to visit Vikarabad. The police eventually relented.
She then met the affected farmers and consoled them, assuring them that she would stand by them.
The leader demanded that the state government buy the drenched and damaged paddy from the farmers. She also demanded that it do so at the MSP. Further, she urged it to it purchase even those food grains which had changed colour.
Sharmila has been busy with the preparations of the
launch of her new party, likely to be called the YSR Telangana Party. However, she has already become quite active in Telangana's political arena and has held scores of meetings with the people of the state.