Farmers’ issues ignored, says T BJP chief

Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao objected to chief minister A Revanth Reddy’s comments made during a public meeting in Mahabubnagar and urged him to maintain decorum in political discourse.

Addressing the media at the BJP state office on Sunday, he said the BJP was prepared for a public debate on the Centre’s contribution to Telangana’s development and challenged the CM to specify a date and venue for such a discussion.He alleged that the Congress govt was indulging in misinformation regarding the Centre’s contribution to Telangana. He claimed that the Centre had sanctioned several key projects and institutions for the state, including AIIMS at Bibinagar, the Kazipet coach factory, the Warangal textile park, the Mulugu Tribal University and multiple national highway projects.Rao also accused the state govt of failing to address issues relating to farmers, fee reimbursement and development in several districts. He alleged that the administration was increasingly relying on land monetisation while ignoring public concerns. Turning to the proposed fruit market project at Koheda in Rangareddy district, the BJP president alleged that farmers’ land parcels have been acquired without payment of compensation.

He claimed that around 239 acres of land earmarked for the project belonged to farmers who had been opposing the acquisition. “Several farmers were detained by police ahead of Revanth Reddy’s visit to lay the foundation stone for the project. Farmers protesting the acquisition were taken into custody and released only after the programme concluded,” he alleged. The BJP demanded that the govt halt all work related to the project until compensation is paid to affected farmers.