Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao slammed the central government on Sunday, accusing it of failing to purchase (parboiled rice) from the state. While accusing the centre of discriminating against Telangana, the TRS leader admitted that he had informed federal government authorities about the lingering issue, but no action had been taken yet.
In a hurriedly called Press conference on Sunday in Pragati Bhavan, The CM of Telangana said, “We were forced to write a letter that we will not give parboiled rice from the Yasangi or Rabi season. We had to do so the Centre accepts off-take of an already existing 20 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice from existing stocks, which is in addition to the 24.75 lakh tonnes it originally agreed to purchase from the 2020-21 season. After forcing us to commit in writing that we will not give any more parboiled rice, now the Centre is saying it cannot procure rice from Telangana,”
Chief Minister Rao went on to say that if farmers in the state grow paddy this Yasangi season, there will be no one to buy it.
“The state BJP president Bandi Sanjay says he will bend our necks and force us to buy every grain of paddy grown. He is calling on farmers to plant paddy this season. This will be disastrous for farmers. While we are working to ensure farmers do not suffer, the BJP, for political gains, is calling on them to plant paddy,” he said.
He also added that “The duty for safeguarding the nation's and people's food security is delegated to the Centre under the Indian Constitution. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was founded as a result of this dedication”.
Further elaborating on this the CM added that “Farmers should not get swayed by false promises of the BJP. But in absence of such an assurance in writing, farmers if they plant paddy, will be putting themselves in danger”.
A very emotionally charged CM also added that “Will you (BJP) send me to jail, to whom you are speaking to? Is this because of your ego? Will you touch me? Do you (BJP & TS BJP President) have the courage to touch me, come and touch me then. Can you (TS BJP President) lead your life after touching CM KCR and sending me to jail? We will cut your (TS BJP Leaders) tongues if you speak whatever you want and pass comments on us.”
While staunchly telling the farmers that the lowering of excise duty on petrol and diesel were to help the Bhartiya Janta Party wins big in the upcoming polls.
