‘Babu has no moral right to speak for ryots’

Vijayawada, May 14: Minister for civil supplies Jupalli Krishna Rao lambasted Telugu Desam Party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu for his remark that the state government was not taking initiative in buying the Nellore Sannalu variety of paddy. Speaking to presspersons here today, he said Chandrababu Naidu had no moral right to speak on behalf of farmers as he did nothing for them during his nine-year tenure as the chief minister.

He reminded that it was the Congress government in the state which persuaded the union government to purchase Nellore Sannalu variety of paddy with four per cent damage instead of the earlier three per cent with a value cut from Rs 1030 to Rs 970 per quintal. This was a pointer to the state government’s commitment to farmers welfare.

The minister also said that they have sent a proposal to the union government to build additional six lakh metric tonnes storage houses in the state to preserve the grains.

Referring to the hue and cry being raised by the TDP over the weeding out of bogus ration cards, he said that of the 2.05 crore ration cards issued, 19 lakhs bogus cards were weeded out. Another 12 lakh ration cards would soon be issued to the genuine BPL families, he said.

Krishna Rao also said that state government was urging the union government to permit farmers to export boiled rice to other states directly.

He advised the TDP chief to suggest solutions to redress farmers problems instead of criticising the state government.

Commissioner of Civil Supplies Sanjay Jaju, MLA Malladi Vishnu and sub-collector K Dharma Reddy were among those present.

Later, the minister visited Guduru mandal and interacted with the Nellore Sannalu farmers.

–Agencies