Kotla holds govt responsible for suicides of onion farmers

Kurnool: Former Union Minister Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy said the ruling Telugu Desam Party has to take the responsibility for farmers’ suicides in the district.

Two farmers in the district had committed suicide for not getting remunerative prices fpr onions at the Agriculture Market Yard. Ignoring the plight of the farmers, the ruling party has taken up intintiki Telugu Desam programme which has no sense, blamed Surya Prakash Reddy.

Addressing a press conference at his residence here on Sunday evening, Reddy pointed out that farmers’ suicides were on the rise in the district. Stating that Kurnool is famous for onion cultivation, he regretted that the farmers were not getting minimum support price at the market yard.

The farmers were investing huge amount to raise the crop hoping good returns on selling the produce but unfortunately the farmers’ hopes were being shattered, he stated. The farmers were finding it difficult to repay the debts borrowed for raising onion crops and resorting to extreme steps, he said.

Surya Prakash Reddy said there is no sense in taking up intintiki Telugu Desam when it could not take up measures for the welfare of farmers.

In protest against the irresponsible approach of the TDP, the Congress activists have decided to stage a Maha Dharna in front of Agriculture Market Yard here on Monday and will also demand Minimum Support Price for onions, he said.Reddy appealed to farmers to make the Maha Dharna a grand success.

Earlier in the day, Surya Prakash Reddy accompanied by other leaders visited the family members of the deceased farmers at Pedda Nelaturu and consoled them.