Centre playing with farmers’ lives

Khammam: The Central Government’s move to waive import duty on wheat has come in for a huge criticism from the Telangana Rythu Sangham.

It may be noted here that Centre slashed duty on wheat imports a couple of days ago; citing that the decision was made to keep inflation under control after the wheat prices hit a record high.

In a meeting here on Saturday, Telangana Rythu Sangham State Joint Secretary Nunna Nageswara Rao alleged that Centre’s decision to waive 10 per cent duty would only help the corporate and multinational companies make hay of the situation.

“We have sufficient stocks of wheat and paddy in the country. The decision to import wheat will break the back of the farmers who are already resorting to distress sale after failing to get minimum support price (MSP) to their produce,” Rao said.

Farmers who are already facing hardships due to demonetisation of high valued notes will now face another problem with this, he said. He demanded the Narendra Modi-led BJP government to roll back its decision as there was a huge threat of farmers resorting to suicides.

Invariably it is the common people, who are bearing the brunt of Centre’s decisions, Rao said, stating that rich have no problem with the demonetisation move as they were able to exchange scrapped notes in high volumes.

He demanded the government to ensure payments of farmers by setting up bank extension counters in all market yards. He also demanded announcement of schedule of water release through Nagarjuna Sagar Project Left Canal for the Rabi cultivation.

“TRS leaders are trying to protect those involved in the trade of spurious seed and adulterated chilli powder, Rao alleged, demanding the State government to seek a CBI probe into the matter.

Senior leaders Madineni Ramesh, Mamilla Sanjeeva Reddy, Tata Bhaskar Rao, Bonthu Rambabu, Katta Gandhi, Bodepudi Veerabhadram and Madineni Ramachandra Rao were present.