Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has launched a scathing attack against the Congress and BJP governments at the Centre for the present plight of the farming community in the country.
Since Independence only two parties viz. Congress and BJP ruled the country and neglected farming sector, he said and alleged that both the parties had miserably failed to understand the farmers’ problems. He also dared the Central Government to react to his allegations.
Participating as chief guest at the Farmers Coordination Committee meeting of north Telangana farmers in Karimnagar on Monday, he reminded people that the slogan of “Jai Jawan – Jai Kisan” was given by Lal Bahadur Sastri long ago. “How much time does the government want to implement the slogan? It is their failure and they are responsible for the suicides by the farming community”, he pointed out.
The country was having 77,000 cusecs of water from rains and other river sources, but the utilisation was not more than 35% for irrigation and other needs, he observed. He stated that he had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi 20 times and wrote letters about the farmers’ plight and their welfare, but in vain.
Expressing concern over non-availability of farm labourers due to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), he said that he had informed the Union Government to link MNREGS with agricultural operations, but did not heed. From the Farmers’ Coordination Committee platform, the Chief Minister passed a resolution demanding the Union Government to link MNREGS with farm operations to benefit both the farmers and the farm labourers amid cheers.
Reiterating that the TRS Government would exert pressure on the Union Government to link MNREGS with farming, he said that the TRS MPs would also grill the Government in Parliament from March 5 onwards. He also found fault with the Union Government for not allocating at least ₹2 lakh crore for the welfare of farmers in the budget.
“When the Union Government is increasing the salaries, DA and pay revisions every year, why is it not increasing the minimum support price for the farmers’ produce every year”, he questioned. “We are not against the increase of salaries, but we also want the same increase for the farmers, who are providing food to entire country”, he maintained.
Flaying the Union Government for neglect of farmers, he said that the Telangana farmers would be in the forefront to fight against the Government for the legitimate rights of the community in the country.
