A delegation of Telangana Congress leaders on Thursday visited the family of farmer B. Limbadari, at his residence in Ramareddy village in Sadashivnagar mandal of Nizamabad district and extended financial assistance of Rs. 1 lakh. Limbadari, alias Limbaiah, committed suicide by hanging to a pole at Lower Tank Bund in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
The Congress delegation was led by Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir. Former minister Sudarshan Reddy, ex-MP and AICC Spokesperson Madhu Yashki Goud, former Government Whip Anil, ex-MLA Gangaram, Municipal Chairman Sushma, senior leader Surender Nallamadugu and others including ZPTC and MPTC members were also present. They handed over Rs. 1 lakh to the family members on behalf of Nalgonda Congress MLA Komatireddy Venkatareddy’s Foundation.
Speaking on the occasion, Shabbir Ali pointed out that despite repeated request and demand from the Congress party for the last one month, the TRS Government has neglected the issue of farmers’ suicide. It did not respond to the Congress demand for a special session of Assembly on the issue. He said a concrete assurance to the farming community could have prevented many suicides. However, due to State Government’s continuous negligence and lethargic attitude, the situation has turned so worse that one farmer is committing suicide in every three hours.
Shabbir Ali said Limbadari committed suicide at Lower Tank, less than a kilometre distance from the State Secretariat. He feared that the situation might go out of control if immediate steps were not taken to prevent further suicides by farmers. Asking TRS leaders to rise above party lines to address the issue, he demanded that a special session of Assembly and Council be convened to discuss the issue and come out with a solution. He said all parties should speak only on farmers’ issues without indulging in politics. He said everyone must accept the responsibility for these suicides and jointly act to avoid recurrence of such incidents. He said now Telangana is on top in terms of farmers’ suicide and this must be stopped.
The Congress leader demanded that the State Government revise the GO.421, issued by the then Congress Government in June 2004, to increase the compensation amount for the families of deceased farmers from present Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh. Further, the government should immediately waive off remaining half of crop loans and take steps to provide fresh loans to farmers.
Shabbir Ali informed that the Congress party has assured to provide all assistance to the family of Limbadari. Besides taking care of treatment of his son, Shankar, the Congress leaders assured to provide help at the time of his daughter’s marriage. (INN)