Farmers Movement Archive

Cong seeks probe into agri purchases

Hyderabad: The Congress alleged that there is a scam with the state government claiming of suffering losses to the tune of Rs 7,500 crore due to purchase of agriculture produce from the farmers at MSP. It demanded a high-level probe into this alleged scam and the release of a white paper on crops purchased and a list of buyers. Former minister Mohd Ali Shabbir demanded a high-level probe into the purchase and sale of various agricultural products by the state government. “Chief minister KCR’s claim that the state government suffered losses of Rs 7,500 crore due to purchase of various crops is suspicious. He may be trying to cover up a major scam by claiming losses,” Shabbir Ali said in a media statement. The government did not do the farmers a favour by purchasing crops at minimum support price (MSP). However, TRS leaders have indulged in a major scam by selling the crop at lower prices by citing lack of demand. “It is ridiculous to say that there was no demand for paddy, sorghum, maize, redgram, bengal gram, sunflower seeds, etc. Their price in the retail market should have dropped significantly if there was no demand,” he added. Meanwhile, Telangana Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned KCR’s decision to wind up procurement centres in villages. “Many of these procurement centres were established by the previous Congress governments. It was KCR who imposed regulated farming and pushed farmers into huge crisis. The CM’s opposition to new farm laws of BJP government was a farce,” Uttam said.

The Times of India

2020-12-29

Hyderabad