Opposition leaders are like rakshasas: KCR

Hyderabad: Branding the Opposition as ‘evil forces’ akin to ‘Rakshasulu (devils) in Ramayana, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao ruled out extending the Rythu Bandhu scheme benefits to tenant farmers in the state.

Speaking at the agriculture officials’ conference here on Monday, the Chief Minister wondered why the Opposition was making hue and cry on the crop investment support scheme launched to provide financial assistance to the farmers. 

The official statistics said 90 per cent of the farmers owned less than 5 acres of land. Many rich farmers gave up the government assistance. The objective of the scheme is to strengthen the farmers, who own lands, and encourage them to pursue farming and turn it into a profitable profession, he said. 

The Chief Minister said the tenant farmers have no right on the lands they tilled during agriculture seasons. The government has nothing to do with the internal private agreement entered between tenant farmers and land owners. Hence, there is no need for extending assistance to tenants by the government, he said and warned the Congress to stop spreading canards against his government.  

The constant efforts made by his government to provide round the clock power supply to the agriculture sector, construction of irrigation projects and revival of abandoned water bodies under Mission Kakatiya gave a succour to the distressed farmers, KCR said.