Narayankhed: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has announced that the Congress party after coming to power in next elections would scrap the Rythu Samanvaya Samithis (Farmers’ Coordination Committees) being formed by the TRS Government.
Addressing a grand public meeting on the third day of Praja Chaitanya Bus Yatra at Narayanakhed on Wednesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy described the committees as TRS outfits and said that the Congress Government would scrap them immediately after coming to power. He alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao was trying to cheat farmers through various gimmicks in view of next elections. He said that the committees were being formed only to grant TRS workers an access to public funds. He said it was highly regrettable that KCR has been trying to benefit his party workers instead of helping farmers who are in deep distress.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also asked the Congress cadre to strongly oppose the anti-farmer decisions of committees’ and prevent misuse of public funds by TRS workers. He ridiculed the recent schemes announced by KCR for farmers. He said KCR Government has neglected the farmers for the last four years and only in view of elections he is making fresh announcements. He said neither KCR nor any ministers or any TRS leader ever consoled any of the 4,000 farmers who committed suicide.
Citing an example, the TPCC chief said today he visited the house of a cotton farmer, Srisailam Mudiraj, in Bobbili village of Sadashivpet. When asked, farmer’s widow Anjamma told the Congress leaders that Srisailam suffered huge losses to his crop due to fake pesticides. He fell into debts and committed suicide. However, he said not a single official or TRS leader visited his house to at least express their condolences. Uttam Kumar Reddy said he immediately spoke to Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi and asked as to how the administration could totally ignore the incident of suicide by a BC farmer. He informed that the Congress leaders have extended a financial assistance of Rs. 1 lakh to Srisailam’s family.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said while KCR and his family members are living a luxurious life using public money, farmers of Telangana have been suffering for the last four years. He said that the Chief Minister got so engulfed in his lavish lifestyle that he was not even aware of what is happening in villages and rural Telangana. He said the present announcements of Rs. 4,000 assistance, accidental insurance or other schemes would not help the TRS as farmers have seen the real face of KCR in the last four years. Commenting on accidental insurance proposal he asked, “You want to give Rs. 5 lakh after a farmer dies. But what would do to make a farmer live?”
The TPCC Chief said that the Congress party has announced Armoor Declaration promising crop loan waiver up to Rs. 2 lakh in a single take, payment of crop insurance premium by the government itself. He also explained the prices at which agricultural produce would be procured after Congress party comes to power. He also asked people to question the TRS leaders on non-fulfillment of promises like Dalit CM, three acres of land for Dalit families, double bed room houses for poor and other promises. He also announced that all eligible persons would get old age pensions without any riders if Congress comes to power in next elections.
Several senior leaders of Congress party also addressed the meeting which marked the completion of first spell of Praja Chaitanya Bus Yatra. Starting from Chevella on February 26, Congress leaders toured Vikarabad, Tandur, Sangareddy, Zaheerabad and Narayankhed. The yatra has been halted for three days in view of Holi festival and it would resume on March 4.