Hyderabad, May 19: Angry over the scathing remarks made by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy against him, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has said that it was the TDP government which helped the farmers in a big way and YS Rajasekhara Reddy government had ditched the farmers.
Jagan in his recent rytu deeksha had alleged that Naidu’s government meted out a raw deal to farmers and even recalled Naidu’s statement that ‘agriculture was useless.’ Reacting sharply to this, Naidu told reporters on Wednesday that: “guddocchi pillanu vekkirichinatlu”.
He reminded Jagan that a large number of farmers committed suicides in the six-year rule of YSR.
“Rajasekhara Reddy’s government diluted water users’ association. It failed to give nine-hour power supply and no additional power was added to the state,” Naidu pointed out.
In fact, Rajasekhara Reddy was responsible for pushing the power utilities into a debt trap, he said.
“If at all, the farmers managed to get seven- hour power supply, it was due to the reforms started by the TDP government,” Naidu claimed.
He further stated that Rajasekhara Reddy government took away fertile lands forcibly from the farmers, and pocketed money in the name of construction of irrigation projects.
“Kiran Kumar Reddy government too is inefficient and failed to bail out farmers from the present crisis,” Naidu alleged.
The state government failed to keep up its promises like providing Rs 2,400 input subsidy and purchasing the discoloured paddy.
Of the 1.65 crore tonnes of paddy, so far farmers were able to sell only 10 to 12 per cent of their stocks.
“Of this, the government agencies purchased only one to two percent,” Naidu pointed out.
The Rytu Chaitanya Yatras turned out to be Rytu Tirugubatu Yatras, the TDP chief said.
He demanded that all the paddy should be purchased by the government agencies after paying the minimum support price.
A TDP delegation will soon meet the Prime Minister and the agriculture minister in this regard, he said.
Road Blockade:
Protesting against the indifferent attitude of the state and the Central governments towards farmers, the TDP activists would organise road blockades on Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm, Naidu said.
Party activists would organise rasta rokos on all roads including highways.
“Come on to the streets and show your unity and strength,” Naidu told the farming community.
–Agencies