Uttam demands GO on farmers' committees withdrawn

Suryapet: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated the demand that the State Government immediately withdraw GO. MS. No. 39 pertaining to formation of "Rythu Samanvaya Samithis".

Speaking to media persons while participating in the dharna in his Huzurnagar constituency of Suryapet district on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the proposed farmers' 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. He said that the Congress party was not against land survey or payment of input subsidy of Rs. 4,000 per acre for each crop. However, he said this should be executed through Revenue and Village Administration and not by the 'TRS Committees' which is being given the mask of 'Rythu Samanvaya Samithi'. He said that 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 to be a curse for Telangana 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 more than 3,500 farmers who committed suicide. The Chief Minister did not even express regret over hand-cuffing and chaining of farmers in Khammam or third-degree torture to Dalit farmers by police. But in view of next elections, he is proposing to give Rs. 4,000 per acre as input subsidy. While we condemn his intentions, 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 subside the Gram Panchayats and handover entire control of villages to his party men through the proposed committees. He said that 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 process was going under TRS regime. He said almost all the irrigation, power and other projects in Telangana were constructed during Congress regime and present TRS Govt did not complete a single project during the last three years. He said that the Mission Bhagiratha and other irrigation projects were launched only to benefit contractors and enable TRS leaders to get commissions. "We are opposing corruption and not development," he clarified.

Uttam Kumar Reddy exhorted all Congress workers to fight for the rights of farmers. He said that the TRS Govt would not be allowed to misuse public money for political gains. Asking KCR to stop exploitation of farmers, he warned that the Congress party would intensify its agitation if GO 39 is not withdrawn immediately. He said farmers would teach a fitting lesson to TRS in next elections.

Congress leaders held similar protest dharnas in all assembly constituency headquarters outside Tahshildar offices today.

Uttam condemns attack on Wanaparthy MLA Chinna Reddy

Uttam Kumar Reddy has 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 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. He said that the Congress workers would continue to remain among people to understand their problems and fight with the government to get them resolved