The TRS has said that the bandh on Saturday flopped because the farmers understood the opportunistic politics of the sponsoring parties and therefore did not participate in it.
Addressing a press conference, Ministers Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao said the farmers were convinced about the conviction of the government to repay to banks the balance Rs.8,000 crore towards loan waiver. The Tahsildars gave farmers letters that they need not pay any amount to banks and the banks had also accepted the undertaking given by government. Yet, the Opposition needlessly provoked farmers that they were duped by the government.
Mr. Reddy demanded former Congress MP Balram Naik to tender an apology over the latter’s remark that his party would merge Telangana with Andhra Pradesh if people did not vote for it in the next elections.
He admitted that suicide by farmers was unfortunate but it took place in rain fed areas due to failure of monsoon. Mr. Krishna Rao said the agricultural crisis was a result of poor handling of financial situation by the previous government. He warned Mr. Naik against repeating such words.
Mr. Rao also said the bandh was called with an eye on upcoming by-elections in Warangal Lok Sabha and Naraynkhed Assembly constituencies. The Opposition was anxious to attract the farmers but they ignored the bandh call.
Another Minister T. Srinivas Yadav told mediapersons separately that the bandh was organised by the Opposition to prove its existence. The bandh failed because it lacked logic as it was called on a public holiday.
The farmers refused to respond positively to the call as the government effectively implemented welfare measures for them. It was a setback to the Opposition.
