Farmer suicides a non-issue for KCR: Cong

Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir strongly criticised the State Cabinet for skipping discussion on the farmers’ issues, including their suicides. Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here on Thursday, Shabbir Ali said people, especially farmers, had a lot of expectations from the State Cabinet, which met after a gap over three months.

• Hails the govt decision to withdraw proposal to introduce cheap liquor
• Claims it as Cong victory
• Seeks White Paper on State’s financial position

However, the Cabinet completely avoided the farmers’ issues, although, about a few hours before the Cabinet meeting, Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy addressed the media admitting that 409 farmers had committed suicide since the TRS government took over.

He said the Cabinet should have increased the compensation amount, as per GO 421, from the present Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. It should have announced a special package for drought-hit farmers and approved short-term crop loans. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao came up with the same old rhetoric basing on tall claims and fake promises.

Shabbir Ali said till a week ago, the Agriculture Minister was contending that figure of farmers suicides were below 100. However, he came halfway and admitted of 409 suicides. He was still negating the figures furnished by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which placed Telangana on the second position with over 1,000 farmer suicides, he said.

Welcoming the State government’s decision to scrap the proposal of introduction of cheap liquor, Shabbir Ali described it as a victory of the Congress and other Opposition parties and the people of Telangana. He said it had become a habit for Chandrashekar Rao to make new announcements and take them back once they turn into controversy.

Citing examples, he said the decisions on FAST, OU land, OGH shifting, etc., met the same fate. Shabbir Ali ridiculed Chandrashekar Rao for announcing that his government would spend Rs 81,000 crore on irrigation in the next three years. He said the government should issue White Paper on the State’s financial position specifying the sources of revenue and expenditure plans.

On one hand the government was announcing plans for huge spending and on the other, it was striving hard to get loans. He pointed out that the State government recently wrote to NITI Ayog seeking permission to borrow more loans under FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management).

While stating that the State’s finances were in a healthy condition, Finance Minister Eatala Rajender disclosed that the government was seeking loans from the World Bank. He said the government should release a White Paper to give a clear picture on the issue.

Ponnam threatens stir

Redesigning of irrigation projects

Congress party senior leader and former MP Ponnam Prabhakar on Thursday announced that the Congress party would launch massive agitation on the issue of redesigning irrigation projects. Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here, Ponnam criticised the TRS government for its decision to redesign irrigation projects.

He said changes in design would only delay the projects and would have a negative impact on the farmers. Stating that the objection by Congress party forced Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to scrap move to introduce cheap liquor, he said government would be forced to retain the present designs of irrigation projects.