Farmers' suicides are 'institutional murders': Uttam

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has appealed to the farmers and Congress workers from across the State to participate in the 'Chalo Assembly' rally to be held on October 27, the first day of Assembly session.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the 'Chalo Assembly' rally would be taken out in a democratic and peaceful manner. He said that the agitation was being organised to expose the indifferent attitude of TRS Government towards farmers. Justifying the timing of 'Chalo Assembly' rally, he said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao never honoured the promises he made with the farmers on multiple occasions on the floor of the Assembly. He said that the conditions for the farming sector have turned so worse that thousands of farmers have committed suicide during the last three years. Describing the farmers' suicides as 'institutional murders', he slammed the Chief Minister and other ministers for not even making a mention of those suicides in their statements. He said that the State Government did not pay compensation to the family of a single farmer who committed suicide. Instead of being apologetic, the TRS leaders were shamelessly blaming the previous Congress regime for the present suicides, he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the crop loan waiver scheme implemented was highly erroneous and it did not benefit the farmers. He said despite giving an assurance on the floor of the Assembly more than twice, the Chief Minister did not take steps to pay interest that got accumulated on the loans due to split of waiver scheme in four instalments. He said there were still thousands of farmers whose last instalment did not reach the bank. Condemning Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao's criticism on Congress party's proposed 'Chalo Assembly' rally, he asked the minister to clarify whether or not the Chief Minister should be held accountable for the commitment that he made on the floor of the House.

The TPCC chief also condemned the TRS Government for not paying any compensation to the farmers who lost their crops due to natural calamities. He said the modernisation of agriculture drive got confined to distribution of tractors among TRS workers. He said that the government did not even enumerate the damages caused to crops due to recent heavy rains. He said hollow statements were being issued by TRS ministers on purchase of damaged cotton, but actual purchase was not being done. He demanded that the government pay additional Rs. 1,000 besides paying 'hammali' charges to the affected farmers. He said the government should enumerate the overall losses and payy compensation of Rs. 25,000 per acre for cotton and Rs. 15,000 for paddy farmers.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Congress party was all set to return to power in 2019 elections. He promised that the next Congress Government would waive off crop loans up to Rs. 2 lakh in a single take. Further, it would ensure higher MSP and remunerative prices for all crops. He said an additional bonus of Rs. 2,000 per quintal would be paid for paddy and maize while cotton farmers would be paid an additional Rs. 5,000 per quintal of their produce. He said that the government itself would pay the premium for crop insurance schemes.

Stating that the TRS Government was trying to foil the proposed 'Chalo Assembly' agitation, he warned the ruling party leaders against creating obstacles in the programme. He said that the farmers and Congress workers would assembly at Gandhi Bhavan at 9 am on October 27 and would march towards Assembly.

Earlier, Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with TPCC Vice-President Dr. Mallu Ravi, Kisan Cell chairman Kodanda Reddy and other leaders held a review meeting on the preparations for 'Chalo Assembly' rally.