Hyderabad, December 26: The Telugu Desam party senior leaders have said that even as the woes of farmers in the State were compounding, the State government was still remaining mum over their plight. They have also alleged that the State government was turning into a police Raj.
The party senior leaders, Mr Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu and Mr Gorantla Butchaiah Chaudari, were speaking to the media at the NTR Bhavan here on Saturday.
Dressing down the State government for its failure to the come to the farmers’ rescue during their hour of distress, Mr Muddu Krishnama Naidu said that though the farmers, fishermen and artisans were gravely hit due to the untimely rains, the government could not provide succour to them.
Referring to the relief being provided in the neighbouring States, Mr Naidu said that in Tamil Nadu, compensation of Rs 10,000 per hectare was awarded, while in Maharashtra it was Rs 7,500 per hectare. He noted that in the State, the government was content with providing a meager Rs 6,000 per hectare.
Pointing out to the Chief Minister, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy, he said that the Chief Minister lacked an understanding about the woes of farmers. He also questioned the Chief Minister’s capability to redress the farmers’ plight as the latter has not reviewed the state of crop loss in his native district.
Mr Muddu said that it was a matter of shame on the part of State government that it has not taken any remedial measures on the suicide by some 240 farmers even after the announcement of package. He also said that the leaders of the Congress party were concerned only with distributing portfolios among themselves. Alleging that the UPA chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, was responsible for the State turning into a cauldron, he also warned that she has to face the wrath of the people if she does not change her policies.
Though a large chunk of income was accruing to the State, the State government was not earmarking enough towards the civic amenities, he said, adding that an excess income of Rs 22,000 crores was expected this fiscal, the State government was not even venturing to spend Rs 2,000 crores for farmers, fishermen and artisans. Noting that the relief offered by the government was a pittance when compared to the illegal earning of Congress leaders, he alleged that Ms Sonia Gandhi was not venturing to take action against Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy as she too has a share in the illegal earnings.
Another senior party leader, Mr Gorantla Butchaiah Choudhary said that the Chief Minister was ruling like a dictator. He said that he was not bothered about the plight of the common man. He alleged that conducting himself like a monarch, the Chief Minister was showing disregard towards the woes of farmers. Likening the Chief Minister with the third Krishna in the epic “Mahabharata”, he said that like the Third Krishna the tenure of Mr reddy would also be for a limited period.
NSS