Officials making money on paddy procurement: BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Friday blamed the government for the plight of the aggrieved farmers, and alleged that Food Corporation of India and Civil Supplies Department officers were making money due to the helplessness of the poor farmers. The BJP leaders told media persons after submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the Secretariat that the grains were procured by the officers at the rate of Rs 850 per quintal and the same were being sold for Rs 1000 due to the weak handling of the situation by the state government. Their list of demands included providing MSP, procurement of grains at the centres, cancellation of middlemen at the market yards etc. Mr Kishen Reddy said that they will intensify their agitation for the farmers' cause and bend the “The grains should be given insurance cover and the entire output should be purchased by the government,” he demanded and pointed out that even the gunny bags were not available while tall claims were made by the officers.
The BJP demanded, among others, payment of Rs 200 a bonus to the distressed farmers as other states had already declared such a bonus.
BJP leader G Kishen Reddy took the government to task for the bad handling of the farmers' issues which forced the helpless farmers to go empty stomach.
state government to come to terms.
The BJP’s state unit president also said that the Rabi output was quite heavy but the farmers were
not reaping the benefits.
This apart, the BJP leader also demanded that the prices of beta cotton be brought down which was increased recently.
Former MP Bandaru Dattatreya and former state BJP president G Indrasena Reddy also were present.