The Telangana Congress leaders on Wednesday demanded that the State Government declare ‘Agriculture Emergency’ in Telangana State.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, TPCC Kisan Cell Chairman M Kodanda Reddy, along with A Krishna and Jagan Naik, claimed that nearly 500 farmers have committed suicide since the formation of TRS Government in the State. He alleged that the State Government not only failed to honour its promise of waiving off crop loans, but took no steps to proper adequate power supply during Khariff season. Several factors, especially the State Government’s apathy, pushed nearly 500 farmers to suicide in the last few months. Therefore, he demanded that the government declare ‘Agricultural Emergency’ in the State.
Kodanda Reddy said that farmers owe nearly Rs 23,000 crore loans to different banks. But the State Government has considered waiver of loans to the tune of nearly Rs 17,000 crore. Further, only Rs 4,250 crore were released towards first installment. He said there was no clarity on when the remaining dues would be cleared. He said that the government should release a White Paper on the issue.
The Congress leaders demanded that the government depute a minister as incharge for one district each and collect entire data related to farmers. He said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao could not play a mute spectator to the situation and should accept his responsibility to give concrete assurance to the farmers. (INN)