Plight of farmers moves YS Jagan

Ananthapuram dist: Moved by the plight of farmers who were getting a raw deal in the Chandrababu Naidu government, YSR Congress President, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that farmers’ welfare and agriculture will get its rightful place in the Navaratnas and will be taken up in the right spirit.

During an interactive session with farmers here on Tuesday as part of the Praja Sankalpa Yatra, the Leader of Opposition said, ‘ Chandrababu Naidu has gone back on all poll promises he made and the loan waiver to farmers and women groups was reduced to a farce but when our government is formed with your blessings, farmers will get nine hour free power, besides interest-free loans, Rs 12,500 advance ahead of the sowing season apart from setting up of Rs 3,000 crore Market Stabilisation Fund to check the price fluctuations to ensure MSP to farm produce.

Agriculture and irrigation were always neglected by TDP government. It was Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy who had brought Handri-Neva project to near completion by releasing Rs 6,000 crores.

Chandrababu Naidu did not even dig a side canal which would have gushed water to this arid region. Srisailam will be brimming with water but the Chief Minister would not build flood-flow canal from Pothireddypadu,’ he said.

During elections Chandrababu Naidu had made many promises and asked for votes assuring that the gold pawned in the banks would be redeemed after he waives the loans. He failed on that promise and the banks are sending auction notices instead.

Not a single crop is getting MSP. Drought and floods have taken a heavy toll on agriculture sector. People in large numbers are migrating to other states in search of work as they were not getting the money even after eight months under NREGS, which is a Central scheme.

Farmers are not getting the required price for the produce as Chandrababu Naidu failed to set up the Market Stabilisation Fund. However, he has been furthering his personal and business interests by getting the agriculture produce at cheap rates and selling them at high costs through his family-owned Heritage Foods, he said.

We have seen the four year rule of Chandrababu Naidu and his priorities and he had said that elections would come in one year’s time. The people should now decide as to what type of leadership they need and who will take the state towards development that would benefit all sections of the people.

After hearing to the plight of the farmers, he said, that the suggestions were taken note of and they would be summarized and reflected in the manifesto that would be implemented in toto.