Centre against providing subsidies, more MSP to farmers: KCR

WARANGAL: The Centre is forcing the state government not to pay more than the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao alleged on Saturday. The Union government has adopted a completely anti-farmer stance and it is time farmers come together for a collective movement against such bias, he said.

"Countries around the world provide subsidies to farmers. Only our Union government is against it and even forces the state governments not to provide MSP to farmers," he said while addressing farmers at Kodakandla in Jangaon district where he inaugurated the Rythu Vedika.

The Centre had imposed severe restrictions on purchase of paddy by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which directed states to buy grain for only Rs 1,888 per quintal, the MSP fixed by the Centre. It also warned against procuring produce from the states if purchased at a higher price, he said.

The Chief Minister said that due to the provision imposed by the FCI, it was not possible to provide a higher price for the fine variety of paddy immediately and that it would surely work out a way that brings higher profits to farmers, who cultivated fine paddy.

Rao said that the Centre’s new agriculture law was anti-farmer. He was incensed that the Bill was passed undemocratically despite the absence of a majority in the Rajya Sabha.

He made it clear that the TRS and Telangana state were totally opposed to the new agriculture laws. He called on the rythu vedikas to play their part to protect themselves from this evil law.

He said that a special plan for the development of Dalits and tribals would also be prepared and implemented, adding that residential schools were already being set up to provide better education.

Agriculture minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, panchayat raj minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Women, child and ST welfare minister Satyavathi Rathod, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Government Whip B. Venkateshwarlu were present on the occasion.