CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna on Sunday criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for promising to allot 100 acres of land to Subash Palekar, a natural farming expert who wanted to “develop agriculture using cow urine.”
“While the world is keen on doing research in seeds, fertilizers, and pesticide, the Chief Minister is keen on giving away hundreds of acres for unscientific projects,” he said at a media conference here.
Speaking about the agrarian crisis, Mr. Ramakrishna asked the Central government to add 50% to the cost of production before fixing the minimum support price as recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Committee.
“We are going to stage agitations across the country from July 24 to 26 seeking implementation of the committee’s recommendations by all State governments,” he said He, however, thanked Mr. Naidu for announcing input subsidy and crop insurance to the Rayalaseema farmers. Stating that over120 mandals had been identified in the region as drought-hit by the government, he said this gesture of the government would help the farmers buy seed, fertilizers, and pesticide for the ensuing kharif season.
Land scam
Referring to the land scam in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Ramakrishna said that HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao too sought a CBI probe into the issue. “It is the moral responsibility of the TDP Government to order a CBI as several ruling party leaders are allegedly involved in it,” he said.
‘Why more land
for capital?’
He found fault with the Chief Minister’s decision to acquire another 14,000 acres for the capital city.
“Where is the need for acquiring another 14,000 acres when 34,000 acres had already been pooled up?” he questioned.
Stating that Mr. Naidu was making a great mistake by developing Amaravati on par with Hyderabad, he said: “The Chief Minister is keeping all the eggs in one basket as he did in Hyderabad, which paved the way for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He should concentrate on backward areas.”
