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TG BJP chief accuses the state government of grossly neglecting farmers
In Short
- Rao is on his way to the Jurala project site to extend support to detained farmers.
- Demanded the State government implement PMFBY or the state’s crop insurance scheme to rescue farmers
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TG BJP chief accuses the state government of grossly neglecting farmers
Jedcherla: Telangana BJP Chief N Ramachander Rao criticised the State government for neglecting farmers' problems.
Rao, who was on his way to visit the protesting farmers at Jurala on Tuesday morning, was detained at Jedcherla and shifted to the District Police Training Centre to prevent him from visiting the Jurala project area. Later, after his release, he told the media that whenever the BJP undertakes any programme or is questioned on public and civic issues, it arrests people instead of taking steps to resolve the problems. He said he disapproved that, whether in the recent struggle over student fee reimbursement or in today's response to farmers' grievances, detention has become the government's only response.
Rao said that while the Chief Minister and concerned ministers remained silent, the local ministers claim water is being reserved for drinking purposes. Turning his ire on the state government, Rao said farmers in the Godavari basin areas, Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation, and the Jurala Project command area are facing severe hardships due to a lack of water for standing crops. He questioned why the government did not arrange counselling for farmers through agricultural officers and mandal-level officers, even though it knew there would be a water shortage due to the El Niño effect. He said farmers should have been advised and convinced to diversify to cultivate less water-intensive crops than traditional practice. However, the state government's claim that it has stored the water for drinking purposes and cannot release it for irrigation is outrageous.
Rao warned that stopping BJP will not halt the farmers' movement. He asserted that not only under Jurala, but every farmer growing turmeric, cotton, paddy, and maize under Nagarjuna Sagar and Godavari projects stands against the Congress government. He criticised the government for failing to introduce a crop insurance scheme better than the Centre's Fasal Bima Yojana, as promised in the Warangal Farmer Declaration, even after 1,000 days in power.
He emphasised that an insurance scheme is crucial during such troubled times and demanded that the government either implement the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) or introduce a new state insurance scheme. He said, “If PMFBY had been in place for farmers under Jurala, this loss would not have happened. But the state government neither implemented the scheme nor paid the premium.” He reminded the government that Mahabubnagar district is Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's home district, and the Chief Minister bears responsibility for protecting the district and its farmers. He said that if the government considers releasing water, it would be a welcome move, and they would view it as a victory for the farmers.
When farmers are in distress, the government should offer reassurance instead; arresting those who question, resorting to lathi-charges on farmers, and blocking visits to projects is unconstitutional and anti-democratic, he added.
