Farmers in several parts of Telangana were up in arms against the Government’s decision to impose a cap on crop loan waiver.
A day after Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s meeting with the State Level bankers, in which it was primarily decided to write off loans up to Rs. 1 lakh availed between June 2013 and May 2014, the farming community expressed its displeasure in unequivocal terms.
Protests broke out at several places in Adilabad, Nizamabad and Medak districts on Thursday as farmers, including those owing allegiance to TRS, who stand to lose by the cap in terms of waiver of loans, took to the streets.
Farmers across Medak, the native district of the Chief Minister, decried the decision on imposing the condition of ‘one–year limit’ on loan waiver. Unconfirmed reports said a farmer reportedly died of cardiac arrest after hearing the news that loan waiver was limited only to 2013-14.
One Muthyala Sangaiah, 40, a resident of Polkampally village in Munipally mandal, died of cardiac arrest late on Wednesday night after hearing the news. Three members of his family had taken farm loans for the last two years and waiver was not applicable for them, according to the bereaved family.
Joint Action Committee (JAC) of farmers staged dharna and burnt an effigy of Mr. Rao at Ellapur village in Papannapet mandal. Activists of all political parties participated in the protest. Similar protests were organised at Kondapaka in the same mandal and Rangampet village in Kulcharam mandal. Farmers also held protests in Siddipet, Medak and Narayanakhed areas.
In Nizamabad district, native district of Agriculture Minister P. Srinivas Reddy, farmers launched an agitation against the Government’s move. Farmers owing allegiance to all political parties, including TRS, removed the TRS flagpole at Manthani village in Armoor mandal.
They burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister at Jankampet village in Velpur mandal protesting the move. Incidentally, Jankampet is the native village of Armoor MLA A. Jeevan Reddy. Protests were also reported from Mothe, Velpur and Kammarpally.
A mock funeral of the Chief Minister’s effigy was held at Talamadugu in Adilabad district and similar protests were held at a couple of other places.
(With inputs from Staff Reporters in Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad)
