FCC a camouflage for TRS yes-men: Congress

Suryapet: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday reiterated the demand that the State government immediately withdraw GO. MS. No. 39 pertaining to formation of "Rythu Samanvaya Samithis" (Farmers’ Coordination Committees).

Speaking to media persons, while participating in the sit-in in his Huzurnagar constituency in Suryapet district, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the proposed farmers' coordination committees were nothing but TRS committees. He accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of opening up public exchequer for TRS workers to make political gains.

The Congress party was not against land survey or payment of input subsidy of Rs 4,000 per acre for each crop. He, however, said this should be executed through Revenue and village administrations and not by the 'TRS committees which would operate in the guise of 'Rythu Samanvaya Samithi.' The government should have included only genuine farmers and not TRS functionaries in the committees.

Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the KCR government has proved a curse for the farmers. "TRS govt did nothing for the welfare of farmers during the last three years. Neither KCR nor his Ministers or TRS MLAs ever consoled families of any of 3,500 farmers who committed suicide.

The Chief Minister did not even express regret over handcuffing and chaining of farmers in Khammam or torture of Dalit farmers by police. But in view of next elections, he hit upon the idea of giving Rs. 4,000 per acre as input subsidy. “We welcome payment of input subsidy. But all farmers, irrespective of whether they are tenant or owners, should be given input subsidy," he demanded.

The TPCC Chief said that KCR wants to override the existing Revenue administration and the Gram Panchayats and hand over entire control of villages to his party men through the proposed committees. He said the Congress party would never allow the Chief Minister to misuse public funds for political gains.

Addressing the dharna earlier, Uttam Kumar Reddy listed out various failures of TRS government. He ridiculed TRS leaders' allegation that the Congress party was obstructing the development process. He said except for corruption and massive irregularities, no other development activity was being implemented under the TRS regime.

Protests in districts
Meanwhile Congress workers staged sit-ins outside offices of Tahsildar in Assembly constituencies across the State opposing G.O. No.39, which allows formation of Rythu Samithi Committees.

TPCC Working President Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka staged a sit-in at Madhira Assembly constituency headquarters in Khammam district. At Ibrahimpatnam in Rangareddy district, DCC President Kyama Mallesh staged a sit-in in front of MRO office along with party activists. They also burnt an effigy of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. Police arrested the leaders and shifted them to police station. Ponguleti Sudhakara Reddy, MLC, led agitation at Kalluru.

Attack on Chinna Reddy condemned Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned the attack on Wanaparthy MLA G Chinna Reddy by the TRS workers and police during the Congress party's protest against GO 39. He said this was the second attack on Chinna Reddy by the TRS activists in the recent past.

He alleged that the TRS government was trying to suppress the voice of main opposition party by adopting intimidating tactics. However, he said that the Congress leaders and workers would not get frightened with such attacks.