The Telangana Rashtra Samiti has asserted that the Congress’ opposition to the construction of the irrigation projects to achieve irrigation potential of one crore acres was exposed yet again with the main Opposition trying to stall the passage of the amendments to the Land Acquisition Act.
Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari charged the Congress with being ‘anti-farmer’ as was evident from the manner in which its MLAs tried to obstruct the proceedings of the Assembly during the passage of a crucial bill amending the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act passed by the State Government in line with the recommendations of the Centre.
“We have allowed debate on the amendments to the Bill passed by the State Assembly and circulated the copies of the amendments proposed to the Congress members during the business advisory committee meeting on Saturday. But the Congress did not want the proceedings to continue as they want to take credit for the Land Acquisition Act of 2013,” he said.
Ridiculed
He ridiculed Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and working president Mallu Bhattivikramarka for criticising the TRS Government as anti farmer and said the agriculture sector plunged into crisis during the 10-year-long Congress regime. “There were several instances of farmers taking to streets demanding supply of power, fertilisers and seed during the Congress rule, but there was no such incident ever since the TRS took over the reins,” he said.
Another Minister T. Nageswara Rao said the Congress rule was marked with corruption and large scale irregularities. “The Congress has the patent for misgovernance,” he said wondering why the main Opposition shied away from the debate when the ruling party wanted their view on amendments like fixation of market values before notification of the land for acquisition that were incorporated in the Bill. Moreover, the amendments were aimed at ensuring that the State’s legislation was within the purview of the Central Act.
Crocodile tears
Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, at a separate press conference, accused the Congress leaders of trying to provoke the people and stall the irrigation projects which were crucial for the accelerated development of the new State. “After neglecting the sector for long, the Congress leaders are now shedding crocodile tears for farmers’ cause,” he said. Elaborate debate took place in the Assembly during the passage of the land acquisition act, but the Congress leaders were deliberately trying to divert the attention on one pretext or the other.
Finance Minister Etala Rajender, Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and others also criticised the Congress for its attempts to create obstacles in the Government’s efforts for speedy completion of projects.
