Govt discriminating against T cotton farmers: TRS

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Thursday backed its accusations against the state government that it was discriminating against the Telangana farmers by quoting statistics saying that while only 40,000 packets of cotton seeds were released for 2.6 lakh acres in Karimnagar, 5 lakh packets were released for the same area in Guntur.

Senior TRS leader Etala Rajender told media persons at the Telangana Bhavan that while nine lakh packets of cotton seeds were needed to sow crops in 2.6 lakh acres, the government had supplied only 40,000 packets in Karminagar district.

“The government has supplied five lakh packets to cultivate the same area of Guntur district. This is sheer discrimination,” Mr Rajender said.

The non-availability of the cotton seeds in government outlets is forcing the farmers to buy the seeds in the open market by paying premium rates. “The government’s indifferent and biased attitude against Telangana is burdening the farmers,” the TRS leader stated.

“Besides this, the government has failed to release compensation for the farmers who had suffered losses last year, despite there being eligible for the crop insurance,” Mr Rajender added.

“The situation has gone from bad to worse after the resignation of former agriculture minister YS Vivekananda Reddy. The Minister handling the portfolio is not able to give proper attention to the job,” he added.

Protesting the government indifferent attitude to address the farmers’ problems, the TRS would stage dharnas and protests at mandal and divisional level on Friday, the party leader stated.

TRS Deputy Floor Leader Harish Rao, speaking in the same press briefing, asked the delegation of Telangana Congress MPs not to return with empty hands after their meeting the Prime Minister on Thursday.

He advised the leaders to take assurance from the Prime Minister over the announcement on Telangana.

“If they failed to get an assurance on Telangana, the people of the region will not allow them to roam freely in the region and they would be seen as traitors,” he stated.