Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka took a dig at the BRS for its unfounded criticism of the Congress government in the state.
Addressing the "Rythu panduga" farmer's meeting at Mahabubnagar on Saturday, Vikramarka highlighted the Congress government's swift implementation of farmer-friendly policies and developmental initiatives in its very first year in office.
“BRS leaders keep crying while farmers celebrate because of our pro-farmer policies,” he said. He pledged to continue addressing farmers’ issues with determination, ensuring no challenge is ignored.
He underlined the significant achievements in the agriculture sector, stating that the Congress government achieved record-high paddy production of 153 lakh tonnes across 66.77 lakh acres without relying on the Kaleshwaram project.
“This was possible due to our strategic planning,” he added. He criticised the BRS regime for failing to complete irrigation projects, and, in the process, leaving regions like Palamuru parched.
“In their ten-year rule, they turned Palamuru into a desert,” he remarked. The deputy Chief Minister also announced progress in ongoing irrigation initiatives, including the Palamuru-RangaReddy lift irrigation scheme, which was initially sanctioned during the tenure of Y.S. Rajasekara Reddy. He assured timely payments for the completion of pending irrigation projects on Krishna river.
He highlighted Congress government’ commitment to boost the farming community and peoples’ lives. The government allocated Rs 73,000 crore for farmers in one year, paid Rs 1,433 crore in premiums under the Rythu bima scheme, and provided Rs 2,500 crore for crop insurance. Moreover, Rs 100 crore was swiftly released for crop loss compensation soon after the government came to power.
He dismissed BRS protests as baseless, urging them not to assume that the Congress government would follow in their footsteps of inaction.
“This is not a government of the feudal lords, but a government of the people,” he declared.
He said that the Congress government is reviving programmes like drip irrigation, agricultural tourism, and subsidised seed supply, ensuring
sustainable progress.
