6,121 farmers died during BRS rule: Sridhar Babu

Hyderabad:IT and industries minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu alleged that 6,121 farmers had died by suicide between 2014 and 2022 due to mounting debts and lack of support from the then BRS government. He said the data was from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), disclosed in Parliament in 2022.

Sridhar Babu accused the BRS of misappropriating `25,672 crore under the Rythu Bandhu scheme by providing benefits to ineligible individuals. He alleged that the sum was funnelled to non-agricultural land, boulders, and real estate plots between 2018-19 and 2022-23. He called for a review of BRS governance, highlighting the severe challenges faced by the farming community, especially tenant farmers.

The minister accused the BRS government of deceiving farmers with vote-bank politics, criticising BRS leaders for their "feigned love" for farmers. In contrast, he pointed out that Congress is striving to address the farmers' issues through the Rythu Bharosa scheme.

Sridhar Babu said that the Congress government had fulfilled its promise by waiving `21,000 crore of farm loans, despite inheriting a state mired in debt due to the financial mismanagement by the BRS. He urged BRS leaders to stop misleading the public and instead engage with the people.

“Step out of your media appearances and witness the ground realities. Only then can you comprehend the impact of our governance and the good it has done for the people,” Sridhar Babu suggested.