Leader of Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Council, Mohd. Ali Shabbir and Deputy Leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy have demanded that Government declare an 'Agriculture Emergency' in the State.
Only the declaration of such an emergency and the relevant follow-up initiatives, including release of compensation for crop loss, fresh loans and the like, by the Centre and State would give solace to the farming community, the two leaders said at a press conference here on Thursday.
They regretted that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was neither taking steps to help the farmers, nor had he even offered any words of solace. Mr. Shabbir Ali lambasted the Chief Minister for being 'uncaring' and regretted that the State-level Disaster Management Committee had not met even after the situation on the agricultural front turning grim.
Drought declaration too had not happened, he pointed out. Referring to the ordinance on Land Acquisition, the Leader of Opposition said Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu should give clarity to farmers.
Mr. Sudhakar Reddy demanded that Market Intervention Funds be released without any delay. Also, Government should order the officials concerned to procure rice from farmers even if it was 'wet or discoloured'.
