VIJAYAWADA: Senior Telugu Desam leader Kanna Lakshminarayana demanded Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government provide Rs 50,000 per acre as compensation for commercial crops and Rs 25,000 per acre for pulses and millets to the farmers who suffered crop loss due to the recent rains. He said that the Chief Minister should step down if his government was unable to support the rain-hit farmers in the state as it is not a good sign of governance.
Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, Lakshminarayana said the Jagan government's negligence in paying the crop insurance amount on time was the reason for farmers’ tears and wanted the government to buy the grain directly at minimum support price and stop irregularities in procurement.
The TD leader questioned the YSRC government about the Rs 2,000-crore natural calamity relief fund and Rs 3,000-crore price stabilisation fund, which were promised during the elections. He deplored that the Chief Minister did not bat an eyelid when the farmers in the state were suffering from losses. The ministers were engaged in attacking the opposition leaders, leaving the administration to the wind.
Lakshminarayana alleged that millers were procuring an additional 5 to 12 kg per 75-kg bag of grain in some areas, exploiting farmers of from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per lorry load of grain. Moreover, the farmers were being charged Rs 100 to Rs 200 per bag unofficially in some places, he alleged and demanded the government stop the exploitation by millers.
