Opposition slams Telangana Govt over crop procurement delays

Criticising the Congress Government in Telangana over the alleged delay in crop purchases, the Opposition parties-BJP, BRS, and TRS-on Friday urged the Government to buy farmers’ produce without further delay.

Referring to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s remarks on Thursday that 80 per cent of the produce had been procured from farmers, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said no paddy procurement centre was functioning properly.

He told reporters that he was ready to face any punishment if it was proven that 80 per cent of the procurement had indeed been completed.

He alleged that farmers had been waiting for the last 45 days for their crops to be procured. The ryots were facing several hardships, as they had to pay for gunny bags and tractor waiting charges, he claimed, adding that even drinking water was unavailable at the centres.

The BRS leader demanded that the Congress Government release a crop-wise white paper detailing procurement carried out so far during the current Rabi season.

Referring to the CM’s recent comments that Congress would win the next Assembly elections in 2028 and that he would continue for a second term, Rama Rao said that if Reddy was confident of Congress being re-elected, both BRS and Congress should seek a fresh mandate from the people.

BJP floor leader in the Assembly, A Maheshwar Reddy, said that he and other BJP leaders were ready to visit any procurement centre to verify whether 80 per cent procurement had actually been completed.

“Otherwise, you should come with us. We will show you. Official statistics indicate that only 24 per cent of procurement has been completed. If the CM proves that 80 per cent procurement has been completed, we are ready to face any consequence,” he told reporters.

He added that BJP MLAs and MLCs would visit procurement centres from May 25.

K Kavitha, president of Telangana Rakshana Sena, staged a dharna at the Secretariat here on Friday, demanding that the State Government procure paddy from farmers without delay.

Alleging that the Government was not procuring paddy, sunflower, and other crops from farmers, she said the protest was aimed at forcing the Government to take immediate action.