Congress seeks CM’s unconditional apology

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly condemned the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government for handcuffing of chilli farmers while they were being produced before the court in Khammam on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons at his residence at Banjara Hills here, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the TRS government committed a grave mistake by handcuffing the farmers, who were accused in the case pertaining to protest at Khammam Market Yard. He reminded that the poor farmers had staged a protest demanding remunerative price for their crop. Instead of conceding to their demand, the government registered criminal cases against them and put them behind bars.

“It is highly shocking that the accused farmers were brought to the court handcuffed. Are they terrorists or extremists? What is the message that the TRS government was trying to convey by handcuffing the poor farmers? Is it trying to say that anyone, who holds protest against the TRS government, will be considered a hardcore criminal?” he asked. The innocent farmers were arrested and sent to jail. “Today, the Chief Minister crossed all limits by ordering the police to produce the farmers before the court handcuffed. This is the height of arrogance of power,” he said.

The TPCC chief demanded that Chandrashekar Rao tender an unconditional public apology for the mistake of handcuffing the farmers. He also demanded stern action, including suspension of all police officials responsible for handcuffing of farmers. He said all cases registered against the farmers should be withdrawn immediately. “The Congress will intensify its agitation if these demands are not met immediately.

The echo of farmers’ protest held at Khammam Market Yard will now be heard everywhere across Telangana State. Poor chilli farmers have been subjected to a lot of humiliation. First, they were denied a supportive price, implicated in a false case, arrested, jailed and now handcuffed. We will not let their sacrifices go waste,” he said. Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated the demand that the State government immediately procure the chilli by paying Rs 12,000 per quintal. He warned the TRS government of serious implications if it continued to neglect the farmers of Telangana State.

“Chandrashekar Rao remained a mute spectator to suicide by more than 3,000 farmers. The TRS government did nothing when farmers lost four consecutive crops and when a favourable monsoon increased their production in Rabi season, they were denied remunerative prices. The Congress will not tolerate this injustice to the farmers and will launch mass agitation,” he announced.

The TPCC chief said that Chandrashekar Rao should stop misleading the people with his tall-talk and fake promises. Describing Chandrashekar Rao’s promise of payment of Rs 4,000 per acre fertilizer subsidy as an election gimmick, he said the Chief Minister should provide the input subsidy from this Khariff season itself instead of implementing it from the next year. Stating that the agriculture sector was in complete doldrums under the TRS rule, he said that the Congress would revive the entire sector after it returned to power in 2019 elections.