BJP State president K Laxman accused the State government of not implementing the minimum support price announced by the Central Government for chilli farmers.
He was visiting the Enumamula Agriculture Market here on Monday. Several BJP leaders including State general secretary G. Premender Reddy, former MLA M. Dharma Rao, Warangal Urban President Rao Padma, Bhupalapalli President E. Ashok Reddy, came to the market in a rally from Kashibugga but the police stalled them from proceeding to the market. They denied permission to the BJP leaders to enter the market premises. As the leaders refused to leave the premises, the police arrested all of them and shifted them to the Mills colony police station.
Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Laxman blamed the TRS government for the plight of chilli farmers in the state. He said the MSP declared by the state government was not being implemented by the state government since one week. He demanded the state government announce Rs. 2000 bonus for the Chilli farmers and pay them Rs. 7000 per quintal including the MSP declared by the centre.
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“The neighbouring state of Maharashtra is giving Rs. 1500 bonus to the farmers. The TRS government is not doing it. They spend crores of rupees for their public meetings but they do not have money to give to the farmers,” he said.
Criticising the marketing ministry for not keeping the cold storages in the state available for the farmers, the BJP leader said the TRS leaders colluded with the traders and allotted cold storages to them.
“Mr Harish Rao claims that there was good chilli production this year because of Mission Kakatiya scheme which revived the lakes in the state. He does not even know that chilli crop does not require continuous irrigation,” Mr Laxman said.
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