Harish Rao sets two days deadline for Paddy Procurement

For onlineHyderabad: Former minister T Harish Rao said he would personally along with thousands of farmers besiege Siddipet collectorate if Paddy procurement is not completed within two days.

He alleged that the Congress govt, which is supposed to work on mission mode, appears to be working on commission mode.The BRS deputy floor leader visited the paddy procurement centre at Ensanpalli village in Siddipet urban mandal on Monday and inquired about the hardships of farmers who have been waiting for days at the threshing floors. Speaking to the media later, he strongly condemned the state govt’s failure in paddy procurement.“The state govt has no concern for the farmers. Due to the state govt’s negligence, lakhs of farmers are suffering today. The Congress govt that has failed in urea supply, electricity, and disbursement of Rythu Bandhu has also completely failed in procuring the paddy that farmers toiled year-round to grow. Not only during KCR’s tenure as Chief Minister, but even in the undivided AP under YSR, Rosaiah, and Kiran Kumar Reddy — farmers never faced such pain and hardship under any CM,” Harish Rao said.

While the state’s yield stands at 1.40 crore tons, minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who until yesterday said he would procure 90 lakh metric tons of paddy, is today saying only 70 lakh tons would be procured. “Does that mean the remaining 70 lakh tons of farmers’ produce should be sold to middlemen at a loss?, he askedhe said unable to procure paddy, the Congress govt is blaming the Centre. When the Centre refused to procure, KCR along with ministers and MLAs staged a dharna in Delhi and forced the Centre to relent.

Even when the Centre did not buy, KCR himself procured the paddy to ensure farmers suffered no loss. If you have the ability, go to Delhi and fight — but don’t drown the farmers, the ex-minister and Siddipet MLA said.He alleged that CM Revanth Reddy, sitting in AC rooms, is making tough statements about skinning those who make deductions at procurement centres, and minister Uttam is talking about strict action — all just dialogue.“Farmers from my constituency, Siddipet — Nanganur, Khanapur, Khata, Venkatpur, Narmeta, Palamakula, Siddipet Urban, Ensanpalli, Mittapalli, Ravurukal, Raghavapur, Mallaram, Sikandalpur and other villages — have been calling me since morning. Millers are blackmailing farmers, saying they will only unload sacks if 43 kg is put per sack. As a result, farmers are losing 150 kg per acre. When this matter was brought to the DSO’s attention, he irresponsibly replied asking farmers to sort it out with the millers themselves,” Harish Rao said.Not a single minister is visiting procurement centres. Even as farmers stage road blockades at Mittapalli, Nanganur, and Chinnakodur, this government shows no compassion, he said.ends/