Opposition Congress members protested against the government for foisting false cases against the farmers in Khammam but their intent to stage a walk-out in the Legislative Council on the issue on Monday was pre-empted with the Chairman adjourning the House for a tea-break.
Deputy Leader of Opposition and Congress Legislature Party Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy raised the issue during Question Hour whether false cases were foisted against 10 mirchi farmers - seven STs and three BCs - for demanding Minimum Support Price for their produce. The issue took a serious turn when Agriculture Minster Pocharam Srinivas Reddy responded in the negative.
Then flashing the copies of FIR and remand reports, Mr. Sudhakar Reddy charged that the government is denying what the whole world had seen - the handcuffing and arrest of farmers for seeking MSP and demanded withdrawal of cases.
Pocharam clarifies
The Minister, however, clarified that cases were filed against farmers not with an vindictive attitude but for destroying the market committee’s property. It is a routine action and cited instances when Congress party during its rule had filed cases against farmers in Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar districts. The government would examine the issue and withdraw the cases, he added.
Terming the Minister’s response as false, the Congress members rushed into the well of the House and said cases of arson were filed against the farmers deliberately while some miscreants damaged e-NAM equipment at the instance of commission agents. Mr. Sudhakar Reddy demanded a judicial inquiry into the issue or withdrawal of the cases against the farmers.
Later when the Congress members addressed media persons, Mr.Sudhakar Reddy said that they were contemplating a privilege notice as the rights of the Leader of Opposition to stage a walk-out were denied in the House. Contrary to the Minister’s response, rowdy sheets were opened on farmers of Tadvai in Kamareddy for cases filed against them in 2014 but dropped one-and-a half years later.
