Khammam, Oct.20 (NSS): Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageshwar Rao has launched a scathing attack on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi ( BRS) regarding their protests.
Speaking to the media here on Sunday, the Minister reminded that the previous BRS government had withheld Rs.7,600 crores, which the Congress government later cleared under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, and criticised the BRS for neglecting key agricultural programmes such as mechanisation, crop insurance and drip irrigation, under the guise of Rythu Bandhu.
He accused the KCR government of shedding “crocodile tears” over farm loan waivers.
“While in power, the BRS had wronged farmers. In contrast, the Congress government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has implemented a farm loan waiver that is unprecedented in the country,” Tummala asserted.
He claimed that farmers were not responding to the BRS protests and alleged that the KCR government had siphoned off thousands of crores in public funds by providing Rythu Bandhu benefits even to non-cultivable lands.
“The BRS government has misused Rs.25,000 crores over five years for uncultivated lands,” he alleged.
Tummala highlighted that BRS policies left farmers confused, especially regarding crop choices like paddy and maize and pointed out that during KCR’s tenure, farmers were misled about crop cultivation and subsidies for quality seeds.
“The Congress government, on the other hand, had cleared the outstanding dues for seed subsidies and ensured that farmers affected by natural disasters received assistance,” he added.
