Kamareddy: K Chandrashekar Rao provides backdoor entry to corporate farming, alleges Shabbir Ali

Kamareddy: Former Minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana State Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of hatching a conspiracy to take away farmers' lands to facilitate corporate farming in the State. He distributed essential commodities to nurses of ANM VRA Government Hospital in Rajampet mandal headquarters on Thursday.

Later speaking with the media, Shabbir Ali said that the CM gave a veiled threat to farmers that they would be deprived of Investment Support of Rs 5,000 per acre per season under Rythu Bandhu, if they refuse to grow the crops that were suggested by the State government. KCR was indirectly promoting corporate farming, a proposal which was rejected by the previous Congress government to protect the interest of farmers, he added. He said that farmers have more knowledge and experience than politicians like KCR in deciding what they should cultivate in a given season.

There might be abundant crops and there would be small yields depending upon the rainfall, humidity, temperature, quality of seeds, fertilisers and also the methodologies being adopted by farmers. However, he alleged that KCR wants to take complete control over farmers' lands by just paying them Investment Support of Rs 5,000 per acre per season.

Shabbir Ali said before advising farmers what crops they should grow, the Chief Minister must fulfil all his pending promises. The government should first waive off crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh for all farmers in a single take. Since it was a major poll promise, the TRS government should also give an undertaking to the banks that interest on crop loans with effect from November 11, 2018 would be paid by the government. Further, he said the government should release a White Paper giving details on losses suffered by Telangana farmers due to natural calamities like drought and unseasonal rains since June 2014. A Status Note on farmers' suicides since formation of Telangana should be released, along with the details of how many of families have actually been provided support under amended GO 421, he demanded.

The Congress leader reminded that KCR had promised to turn agriculture into a profitable business to the extent that farmers could earn Rs 1 crore per acre. He said instead of taking away farmers' land to benefit a few corporate companies, KCR should ensure that at least one lakh out of 55 lakh farmers in Telangana earn at least Rs 50 lakh, if not Rs 1 crore, per acre in every season.

Shabbir Ali also welcomed Rs 20 lakh crore package announced by the Centre. However, he said there was nothing in the package for the migrant workers and other people, who lost their jobs due to lockdown.

He also welcomed the decision of High Court wherein it directed the State government to provide financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to all white ration card holders, even if they had or had not procured 12 kg of free rice in the previous three months.