Hyderabad: Leaders of the Telangana Kisan Congress, who tried to meet the civil supplies commissioner seeking redressal of farmer’s grievances and other irregularities in purchase of paddy in the guise of wastage, were taken into custody on Saturday.
“Ninety per cent of the paddy has been harvested but purchases have been minimal. The paddy that is yet to be purchased is getting soaked in rains and farmers are facing problems owing to this,” wrote Telangana Kisan Congress chairman Anwesh Reddy Sunketa in a letter to the commissioner.
Farmers are still being forced to part with 10 kg paddy per quintal for free in the guise of wastage. “We had alerted the government to solve these issues. Farmers are not being supplied the required number of gunny bags; transportation remains a problem and the paddy is not yet weighed”, he wrote.
Sunketa said that severe heat, hailstorms, rains, thunderstorms and lightning have added to the problems of farmers. Rampant corruption in paddy purchase centres shows the utter lack of concern for the plight of the farmers, the Congress leader said.
It was likewise in the rabi season last year. No action was taken despite proofs being provided to the government and those farmers still await payment, he said.
Other Telangana Kisan Congress leaders Anvesh Reddy, M. Kodanda Reddy and others from the districts were shifted to Bolaram police station.
