Revanth blames KCR for rising farmer suicides in TS, says CM suppressing numbers

Hyderabad: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and MP A. Revanth Reddy has expressed serious concern over the rising number of farmer suicides across Telangana. Blaming Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for the suicides, he said KCR was busy with his political and religious tours while leaving lakhs of farmers in deep distress.

Revanth said lakhs of farmers in Telangana were in deep distress due to the negligence of the TRS government in the state and the BJP government at the Centre. "Farmers are trapped under huge debts. They are unable to pay off their debts as the authorities are not buying their produce nor are they offering them MSP," he said.

He added that the farmers had already exhausted all their resources to cultivate the last crop and had no money to invest in the forthcoming crop. Finding no possible exit from the current financial crisis, many farmers have committed suicide while several others are on the verge of resorting to the extreme step, he said.

The TPCC chief said the uncertainty over procurement of paddy by the government and lack of clarity on the next crop has turned the situation worse.

Stating that at least one farmer committed suicide every eight hours in Telangana in the last two months, Revanth said the actual number of suicides could be much higher. "CM KCR has reportedly directed the police to refrain from registering the cases of farmer suicides. By suppressing the numbers, KCR has been wrongly trying to give a false impression of 'All is Well' in Telangana. Relatives of farmers who committed suicide are being allegedly threatened by the local authorities and the police stating that they will not get any benefit under Rythu Bima if they register a case of suicide. Therefore, many suicides are being shown as death due to 'natural causes' and not farming," he alleged.

Revanth said the families of farmers who committed suicide must get Rs. 6 lakh compensation and other assistance as per the provisions of government order 421. However, the TRS government has stopped implementing the order to suppress the figures of farmer suicides. He demanded the state direct all district collectors to extend financial assistance to the families of farmers without further delay as per the order.

"I appeal to all farmers not to lose hope and not to resort to any extreme step. The Congress party will fight for your rights and get justice," he appealed.