Harish Rao asks farmers not to repay loans, demands immediate waiver of Rs 2 lakh crop loan

HYDERABAD: Former Minister T Harish Rao has urged the farmers in the State not to repay the loans taken for agriculture purposes and demanded a waiver of Rs 2 lakh crop loan as promised by the Congress Government.

Addressing the press at Telangana Bhavan here on Monday the former Irrigation Minister said that several banks started harassing the farmers to repay loans by going to villages. He displayed a video shot on mobile where APGVB of Regode in Sangareddy district staff members could be seen arguing with the farmers that they had nothing to do with politics and they wanted their money back

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“These bank employees resembling ‘Razakars’ are terrorising the farmers for believing and electing the Congress Government. Revanth Reddy promised that he would sign the Rs 2 lakh crop loan waiver file on December 9 and he asked farmers not to get more loans and he would repay them,” Harish Rao said.

He recalled that Revanth Reddy took oath two days ahead but so far did not waive the loans nor did he release Rytu Bharosa. “Revanth Reddy did not implement the four promises he made to the farmers before the election. He cheated farmers resulting in an agricultural crisis in the State,” Harih Rao said.

He said that BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao spoke to several leaders from all across the State and directed that all BRS MPs MLAs and leaders at all levels should go to farmers from Tuesday, collect data, and send details to BRS headquarters for compilation.

“KCR never missed one installment of Rytu Bandhu even during the time of Corona. He released Rs 75,000 crore under Rytu Bandhu. He saw to it that groundwater levels were replenished with the help of Mission Kakatiya. Unfortunately, neither Congress in the State nor the BJP at the centre cares about farmers. BJP is keen on sending ED teams to harass opposition leaders but can’t send a central team to enumerate damaged crops in Telangana,” Harish Rao rued.

He wanted the Government to rush revenue and agriculture officers to villages to enumerate crop damage due to lack of irrigation and unseasonal rains and hail storms in other parts of the State. “We assure the Congress Government that we will not complain the matter to the ECI just like they did before the Assembly elections in 2023 stopping the release of Rytu Bandhu,” Harish Rao said.

Warning the Government that the BRS would soon call for a “chalo secretariat’ of thousands of farmers if it failed to release Rs 25,000 per acre compensation Rs 500 per quintal bonus for paddy, and Rytu Bandhu financial assistance. “Don’t repay loans. BRS would be behind you. Let the Government give you MSP plus bonus as ‘Yasangi’ produce has started arriving at various market yards in the State,” he said. He also demanded the opening of paddy procurement centres to facilitate the smooth purchase of paddy.

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He said that he visited Lakshmibai Tanda in Janagaon on Sunday where farmers brought to his notice the crisis they were facing. “Many farmers spent huge amounts on sinking borewells. The situation at ground level is precarious. Never in a decade after achieving Telangana we witnessed such a situation. The tribal hamlet was receiving drinking water once a week,” he said. He said that 180 farmers committed suicide after Congress came to power and 20 lakh acres dried up due to lack of proper management of irrigation projects.