Congress vows to help distressed farmers

Mounting a virulent attack on the TRS government for allegedly remaining callous towards the grave issue of farmer suicides, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy vowed to stand by the distressed farmers and strive to help them overcome the present crisis.

We appeal to all sections of society to express their solidarity with the misery stricken farmers by actively participating in the State bandh called by the opposition parties including the Congress party to uphold the cause of debt-ridden farmers, on October 10, Mr Reddy said.

The bandh is part of a series of agitations planned to exert pressure on the government for one-time settlement of farm loan waiver, he asserted. He was speaking at a well attended roadside meeting in Kusumanchi mandal headquarters as part of the “Rythu Barosa Yatra” in the district on Thursday evening.

A host of senior Congress leaders including the TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the Congress Legislature Party leader in the State Assembly K Jana Reddy and others were present. Addressing an impressive gathering of farmers, some of whom had arrived at the venue in bullock carts, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that nearly 1,400 farmers had committed suicide in distress in the past 15 months of the TRS rule.

Heavy toll

The erratic monsoon coupled with lack of foresight and maladministration of the TRS regime took a heavy toll on the distressed farmers, he charged, alleging that the persons at the helm of affairs did not even console the kin of the deceased farmers.

“Those at the helm of affairs are keen to take up projects worth thousands of crores, which fetch them hefty commissions. They are reluctant to spend Rs 8,500 crore to bail out the distressed farmers from the debt burden,” he charged.

Mr Vikramarka said the Congress party has a proven track record of waiving farm loans worth thousands of crores in the past.

We will spearhead the ongoing movement to mount pressure on the government to provide succour to the debt-ridden farmers and enhanced ex gratia to the families of the deceased farmers, he said. Later, the Congress leaders consoled the bereaved family members of deceased farmer Seethaiah at Kotapadu.