AP Govt policies pushing farmers to suicides: Tulasi Reddy

Kadapa: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) vice-president NTulasi Reddy has said that the farming sector was at the cross roads following adoption of anti-farmers’ policies by the both Central and state governments.

Speaking to media persons at Vempalli on Thursday, he said suicides of farmers become common phenomenon in every state as theyare unable to repay the loans borrowed from banks and private money lenders at abnormal rate of interest.

The situation turned worse as both the Central or state governments are least bothered over finding solution to the problem, he said and alleged that the BJP-led NDA government was totally failed to provide minimum support price (MSP) to farmproduce and the state government was also not in a position support them. 

He said only 11 irrigation projects were completed in AP against 57 started under Jalayagnam during the Congressregime. He said the Congress was the only alternative to protect the interests of farming community instead of TDP and BJP and recalled the assurancesof loan waiver given by the Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Kurnool meeting.

Earlier it was done two times during regime of Prime Ministers Viswanath Prathap Singh and Manmohan Singh in 1989 and 2008 respectively, he added. If Congress voted to power in ensuing elections, it would implement the loan waiver for farmers, he said.

He reiterated that Rahul Gandhi was keen on providing Special Category Status to AP and will establish steel plant in Kadapa district. Pulivendula constituency party in-charge Y Srinivasulu Reddy was present.