Rahul Gandhi’s words are invaluable for the Congress workers and evidently, his small suggestion actually led a leader to put up a gold bracelet for auction for farmers, raising a good deal of money.
The beneficiaries, however, will be poor farmers, who were handcuffed and brought to the court for their alleged involvement in an attack on the agriculture market yard in Khammam, seeking remunerative price for chilli.
The auction, held by former Sangareddy MLA Jagga Reddy fetched ₹20 lakh and it was bought by city-based Geereddy Mahender Reddy of Krushi Builders. “The money would be distributed among the farmers in Khammam and Warangal at a programme that will be conducted in consultation with the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy soon,” Mr. Jagga Reddy said.
The bracelet belongs to former MP V. Hanumantha Rao who donated it to Mr. Jagga Reddy on the suggestion of Mr. Rahul Gandhi during the Praja Garjana organised by TPCC. Impressed by the response, Mr. Gandhi praised Mr. Jagga Reddy for organising the show and asked Mr. Hanumantha Rao, about his contribution to the meeting.
When Mr. Rao said he had not much to contribute, Mr. Gandhi looked at his five-tola gold bracelet and suggested that it could be contributed to lessen the burden on Mr. Jagga Reddy.‘Happy to donate’
Mr. Reddy decided to auction it and give the proceeds to the farmers in distress, particularly those who were handcuffed by the police in Khammam. The incident had triggered strong protests by political parties and farmers, leaving the TRS government in embarrassment. Auction of the braceletstarted with the base price of ₹5 lakh and went up to ₹20 lakh. Mr. Mahender Reddy, who said he also hailed from a farmer’s family, was happy to donate to farmers.
