Warangal: Upping the ante against the Congress government, BRS working president KT Rama Rao lambasted it for betraying farmers in the name of Farmers’ Declaration in Warangal and failing to implement all 34 promises. He warned that unless the Congress implements its promises, the Chief Minister and Ministers will not be able to step out into the public.
“Stop pleading and start questioning. It is time to bring down this anti-farmer government to its knees,” he declared to a roaring crowd at Rythu Sangrama Sadassu (farmers’ meet) organised by the BRS in Warangal.
Addressing a large gathering, Rama Rao launched a blistering attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the Congress leadership, questioning the fate of the Farmers’ Declaration announced by Rahul Gandhi. He targeted Rahul Gandhi for making tall promises and abandoning farmers of Telangana after the Congress came to power. He reminded that four years since the Farmers’ Declaration and over two years in power, the Congress failed to honour even a single promise. “Where is the Farmers’ Declaration? What is the Chief Minister doing while farmers suffer at procurement centres?” he asked.
He alleged that the Congress had failed to honour its key promises, including Rs 15,000 per acre investment support, loan waivers, crop insurance and procurement guarantees. Calling the declaration a bogus document, he said, “Farmers were handed a scrap of paper in the name of Farmers’ Declaration.” He termed the State government’s Mega Farmers Mela as deceit mela.
The BRS working president accused the government of failing to procure crops and delaying payments, forcing farmers into distress. Drawing a contrast with the previous regime under K Chandrashekhar Rao, he said while the former procured crops even during COVID-19 crisis, the Congress was proving to be dangerous than COVID-19 for farmers by abandoning them in dire conditions. He reminded that Rythu Bandhu initiated by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao was replicated by the Central government and 20 other States in the country.
Taking aim at Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Rama Rao dared him to prove that the Rs 2 lakh farm loan waiver was implemented successfully across the State. “I am ready to resign if the government can prove full implementation in even a single village. Will the Chief Minister accept the challenge?” he challenged, adding that incomplete loan waivers had pushed farmers into debt traps, with some driven to extreme distress.
He charged that the government reduced critical support schemes to farmers. “The situation has deteriorated to the point where seeds and fertilisers are being distributed at police stations and fire stations. That is the state of governance today,” he remarked.
Rama Rao warned of Statewide protests if the government continues to delay procurement any further. “Procure every grain or face the wrath of farmers,” he said, adding that the resolutions would be formally sent to the Chief Minister. He asked farmers not to allow the Congress leaders into their villages, unless the government fulfils all 34 promises and procures their crops.
Citing recent deaths of farmers at procurement centres across the State, he said the dark days of agrarian distress had returned. “This government has reduced governance to commissions, confusion and collapse,” he said, asserting that farmers should hold the Congress accountable.