Khammam: ­Mild tension as BJP leaders gherao meeting

Khammam: Mild tension prevailed during a meeting at Zilla Parishad meeting hall in Khammam on Tuesday, when BJP leaders raised anti-government slogans and gheraoed the stage, protesting the comments made by District Rythu Bandhu Samanvaya Committee member.

District Collector RV Karnan organised a meeting between ITC Paper Board officers and Subabul farmers at ZP meeting hall at 11 am on the day. Though several number of Subabul farmers across the district came to the meeting on time, but even after two hours, the Collector and ITC officers didn't attend the meeting. At this time, District Rythu Bandhu Samanvaya Committee member N Venkateswara Rao appealed to the farmers to cooperate with the officials and to be patient. He said, "the farmers at Delhi are fighting against the farm bills for the last 45 days. So, we also should show patience and wait to solve our issues."

BJP leaders, who attended the meeting, become angry at this comment of Venkateswara Rao. They rushed to the podium and raised an anti-TRS government slogans and gheraoed the stage. The police tried to stop the BJP leaders from protesting in the meeting.

State Kisan Morcha president Kondapally Sridhar Reddy condemned the comments of Rythu Bandhu Samanvaya Committee member Venkateswara Rao. He alleged that farmers across the country were hailing the farm bills, but the Opposition leaders were trying to politicise these bills.

BJP district chief Galla Satyanarayana expressed anger on the officers and Rythu Samanvaya Committee members at the meeting. He said Subabul farmers have been suffering for the last few years by not getting good price for their yield. Alleging that the TRS government has not solved their issues yet, he criticised that the ITC officers are neglecting Subabul farmers. Galla demanded that ITC officers should immediately announce a price of Rs 4,500 per tonne as Subabul farmers are demanding the price as per 2018 agreement.

The BJP leader pointed out that the TRS leaders instead of discussing Subabul farmers' issues in the meeting, discussing farm bills. It was a game to divert the Subabul farmers' problems, he alleged.

Later, Collector RV Karnan along with MP Nama Nageswara Rao and ITC officers conducted a meeting at 2.30 pm and discussed the issues of Subabul farmers. The police did not allow the media into the meeting hall.