TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy launched a scathing attack against the ruling Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) government, holding it responsible for farmers suicides.
Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy visited the house of farmer Meka Karunakar, who committed suicide on Thursday, at Saduvelly village of Yadagirigutta on Saturday.
The TPCC chief lashed out at Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao saying he is enjoying his foreign tours while a huge number of distressed farmers are taking their life in State due to the prevailing agrarian crisis.
Holding the government responsible for increasing suicides, Mr. Reddy said the State government had promised to waive Rs. 1 lakh farm at once before the elections, but after coming to power, changed it and decided to waive in four years.
Stating that the previous Congress government had always stood by farmers, Mr. Reddy said the TRS government had done nothing to bring the farm sector out of crisis.
Promising to raise their issues during in the coming Assembly session, Mr. Reddy urged farmers not to commit suicide. “We will fight for you and force the TRS government to act,” he said.
The TPCC president presented Rs. 1 lakh cheque to the family members of Meka Karunakar, 32, who hanged himself to death.
The farmer is survived by mother Jayamma, wife Padma, 25, two daughters, Madhupriya, 4, and Bhanupriya, 2.
When enquired, the farmer’s family members told Mr. Reddy that the deceased was in deep debts.
His kin said that Mr. Karunakar borrowed Rs. 10 lakh from banks and private money lenders since he suffered huge losses in agriculture.
The family owned just 1 acre and 30 guntas of land, but hired four acre land from others.
He cultivated cotton and maize, but due to prevailing dry spell, Mr. Karunakar lost the hope of getting good yield and took the extreme step.
DCC president Budida Bikshamaiah Goud, former ZPTC chairman Kasireddy Narayana Reddy and others were present.
