Nizamabad: Hundreds of farmers from Nizamabad, Armoor and Balkonda staged a rasta roko on National Highway 44 at Mamidipally Crossroads near Armoor on Saturday, demanding the Rs 2-lakh crop loan waiver that the Congress had promised in the run-up to the state elections.
The protest was held under the aegis of the joint action committee of farmers and at least two members from each household was asked to participate in it. Police personnel were forced to divert vehicular traffic onto the Armoor-Hyderabad Road near Mamidipally.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy promised at Siddulagutta temple in Armoor the Rs 2-lakh crop loan waiver during the election campaign, farmer recalled at the protest.
“No farmer asked for Rs 2-lakh crop loan waiver, but the Congress assured it and ignored the majority of farmers on the pretext of ineligibility conditions,” they said, warning that farmers from Armoor are known for their spirit for agitation as was seen during the Telangana state agitation, red jowar and turmeric board agitations.
They set a deadline of September 15, 2024 to the state government to implement the Rs 2 lakh crop loan waiver to all farmers. “Within six days, hundreds of farmers gathered for the protest programme and we will extend it to Hyderabad,” they warned.
Balkonda BRS MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy, former MLAs Bajireddy Govardhan and A. Jeevan Reddy also joined in the protest and extended their solidarity with the farmers. They found fault with the Congress government and warned to intensify the agitation on crop loan waiver. The protestors displayed placards demanding Rs 7,500 per acre Rythu Bandhu aid to the farmers.
Commissioner of police Kalmeshwar Shingenavar supervised the bandobast during the farmers' protest in Armoor. Fire engine, patroll vans, tear gas equipment and armed forces were deployed in and around Armoor town and National Highway-44.
Police shifted cell phone jammers from the protest site as farmers threatened to sit on NH-44.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Armoor additional DCP G. Baswa Reddy said permission was given for farmers to hold a meeting in Armoor. However, gathering of farmers on roads, especially on National Highway-44, was restricted, he said.
Farmers peacefully conducted the protest programme coordinating with the police, he said.
