BJP calls for public debate on paddy procurement

Hyderabad: BJP legislature party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy on Wednesday warned the Telangana govt of an agitation alongside farmers and dumping all the grains at chief minister A Revanth Reddy’s residence if the govt fails to procure the remaining paddy stocks. He accused the Congress govt of betraying farmers by not fulfilling promises made during the Assembly elections. Addressing a press conference, Reddy stated that farmers are facing hardships due to delays in procurement and inadequate arrangements.He claimed Telangana produced 1.41 crore metric tonnes of paddy but the govt reduced procurement targets to about 64 lakh metric tonnes. He highlighted that paddy stocks are piling up, forcing farmers to guard their produce in harsh conditions. Reddy challenged the chief minister to a public debate on issues like paddy procurement and state finances and expressed readiness to back his claims with facts.On housing, Reddy accused the govt of misleading claims about constructing one lakh houses, asserting that much of the funding came from the Centre. He also criticised the handling of major irrigation projects and the state’s financial management, stating that the Congress govt is pushing Telangana into a financial crisis due to excessive borrowing.