KTR demands a white paper on Paddy procurement in Telangana

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Friday demanded the state govt to release a white paper with detailed statistics on Paddy procurement. Denying the claims by chief minister A Revanth Reddy that 80% of the Paddy procurement was completed, he said if the CM prove his claims, he was ready to face any punishment. He said the field reports say only 30% procurement has been completed in the state.Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, KTR criticized the CM and ministers for spreading falsehoods about the Paddy and other crop procurement in the state. The BRS leader said he wrote an open letter to CM Revanth Reddy on Paddy procurement after visiting several districts and witnessing the dire conditions of farmers at procurement centres. Instead of taking steps, CM Revanth Reddy and other ministers were making false statements and resorting to diversion tactics. He demanded the govt to discuss the Paddy procurement in the cabinet meeting to be held on Saturday.KTR accused the govt of denying farmer suicides and deaths, despite providing information to the civil supplies minister. He offers to provide details of farmers who died due to delayed crop purchases if needed.“Farmers across the state are protesting and staging demonstrations. There are no basic facilities at procurement centres, where farmers’ crops are either not weighed or subjected to unfair deductions,” the BRS working president said.KTR said protests are happening over procurement even in the Chief Minister’s own constituency of Kodangal. He accuses the govt neglecting in every aspect, from gunny bags to jute threads, and mentions recent attacks and lawlessness.He urged the state govt and opposition parties to recognize the crop purchase crisis and wake up from their slumber. He advises against ignoring ground-level issues with arrogance, just because they are in power.The BRS leader warned the govt that if fails to address the crop procurements and take necessary actions, the BRS would exert pressure on the govt at the grassroots level and hold the Congress govt accountable.ends/