Farmers Movement Archive

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao goes to war with BJP on fuel prices, farm laws, paddy

HYDERABAD: Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday declared an all-out war against the BJP government at the Centre and the saffron party in the state to protect the interests of farmers and people of Telangana. KCR will lead an all-elected representatives’ delegation to New Delhi and sit on a dharna, demanding procurement of paddy from Telangana, withdrawal of three central farm laws and withdrawal of cess on petrol and diesel. “We will fight against BJP and expose its failures at the national level and in Telangana by holding dharnas on the streets of Delhi and Telangana,” KCR said at a media conference. The Telangana CM said the central government had lied to the people of the country on petrol and diesel prices and was running the show on lies and communal hatred politics and done nothing significant in the last seven years. “The crude oil price was $105 in 2014 and now it is $83. The BJP lied to the public saying that prices of petrol and diesel have increased internationally. The prices never crossed $105 but the BJP government levied cess on petrol and diesel increasing its prices. By increasing the cess, the centre also deprived the state government of its share in taxes,” he said. KCR made it clear that Telangana will not reduce its tax share on fuel as it has not increased a single paisa on VAT on fuel in the last seven years. “We are demanding that the central government withdraw total cess on petrol and diesel. It will allow the government to give petrol at Rs 77 per litre,” KCR said. The CM termed the BJP government as inefficient, anti-farmer and unable to stop China’s transgression into Arunachal Pradesh. KCR accused the BJP government of crushing farmers under the wheels of cars in Lakhimpur Kheri, and mishandling the economy leading to the GDP falling below that of Pakistan and Nepal, even as prices of all essential commodities were sky-rocketing due to rise in fuel prices. “While the central government is saying it will not procure paddy, the BJP state president is instigating farmers to cultivate paddy. We will support farmers in the north agitating for a year now. We will also fight in Parliament and on the streets against BJP,” CM KCR said, adding that the central government announce its policy on paddy procurement. “We are also demanding withdrawal of three controversial central farm laws. We are demanding that the central government refer the crucial issue of river water share of Telangana to the tribunal by stopping its drama of Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards,” he said. Five days after the crucial Huzurabad bypoll result which saw Eatala Rajender of the BJP emerging victorious, KCR also dared the BJP to order an inquiry against him into the allegations of corruption in irrigation projects. “I will not allow the BJP to play with the lives of farmers. As long as I am alive, no one can harm the farmers and interests of Telangana. How dare BJP state president Bandi Sanjay say he will send me to jail. Let them dare touch me and we will show what TRS is capable of. We’re not going to tolerate irresponsible statements from Bandi Sanjay and other BJP leaders anymore,” KCR added.

The Times of India

2021-11-08

Hyderabad